This story does not end at the finish line
We meet in one of Czesław Lang’s favourite Warsaw restaurants. He is a Polish track and road cyclist, an Olympic runner-up, and an organiser of the Tour de Pologne. He arrives on time: elegant, smiling, with an energy that fills the space faster than a peloton at the finish. He wears a navy blue jacket, a perfectly tailored white shirt, and his characteristic warm smile. Before the conversation begins, he is the first to offer a compliment — natural, attentive, present. “I like this place,” he says as we take a table by the window. “It is peaceful, with excellent service and good Polish cuisine. No pretension, no arrogance, no pomposity. Modest. Natural.” The conversation quickly turns to his beginnings, as they formed the most important foundation of his story.
Malwina Kowszewicz: What is your first childhood memory?
Czesław Lang: Love. Space. A large park, nature, peace. We lived in former German palaces. There was joy despite poverty. It was a childhood full of freedom.
M.K.: What do you remember most from those years?
C.L.: Uncertainty. My parents were uprooted from their homes in the East and relocated to former German lands. For many years, we lived with the feeling that it was all temporary, that someone might come and say: “This is not yours.”
M.K.: Has this influenced your way of thinking?
C.L.: Yes. There was no sense of stability. My father worked as a manager of a state farm, and that did not guarantee security either, as he could lose his job any minute. That is how everyone lived: here and now.
M.K.: You already worked as a young boy…
C.L.: My mother and grandmother ran the household, and I helped out as much as I could. There was haymaking, field work… There were things I liked, like the smell of hay and working outdoors. But there were also things I hated, like weeding. You sit for hours, pulling weeds…
M.K.: Has work shaped you?
C.L.: Very much so. It taught me to be systematic and that nothing comes easy. As a young boy, I worked in warehouses, doing simple physical labour. It gave me a sense of independence, and I also knew I was taking some of the burden off my parents.
M.K.: When you retired, you returned to your hometown. Why not Italy?
C.L.: Because this is my place on Earth. I’m connected to this place with my heart. Every metre means something to me. My world was created there. But it was not easy. I spent ten years building my house. I bought two ruins. One palace was the one I was born in, so my emotions were triggered. I bought the other one with land to cultivate. It was an abandoned farm.
M.K.: What values did you take with you from home?
C.L.: Simple things. Work, honesty, respect for people. My parents were uprooted from their homes. They lived with a sense of transience. It teaches humility.
M.K.: To what extent has sport shaped your approach to life?
C.L.: It had a huge impact. Sport is discipline, work, and concentration. It is also the ability to win, but also to lose. We weren’t racing just to participate. We were racing to win.
M.K.: Who was your biggest fan?
C.L.: My parents were humble. They had been through a lot. Suddenly, they saw their son on TV with medals around his neck. It was a huge moment for them, filled with immense pride. Their joy was my greatest reward.
M.K.: Your professional career began in the early 1980s, when you won the silver Olympic medal in Moscow.
C.L.: Yes, but before that, I represented Poland, won medals, and participated in many races.
M.K.: What did you do with the first big money you earned from sports?
C.L.: Back then, people did not think about luxury. Instead, they focused on helping their family and taking care of themselves. It was a different mindset than today. I gave the money to my mother.
M.K.: You had a winning mentality, but also a strong sense of patriotism…
C.L.: Yes. When I put on the red and white jersey, I knew I represented the people. That they were with me. That I couldn’t let them down.
M.K.: Despite, you did not enter politics, even though you received such offers. Why?
C.L.: There were offers, even very specific ones. But I always wanted to do what I love. Without pretence. Without games, without manipulation. I am not cut out for this. I am too honest. It is hard to be yourself in politics, and for me, that is most important.
M.K.: Today, you are focusing on peace. Horses are also your passion. Where did this interest come from?
C.L.: It came through the family. My father always took care of horses, which was his passion, and I inherited that from him. I have over twenty of them. And there are many more at the stables because we also take care of other people’s horses. For me, horses offer peace. Contact with nature. It is a completely different world than professional sports or business.
M.K.: Are you living your success today?
C.L.: Life is a journey. The important thing is to do what you feel. Be honest with yourself. The rest will follow.
M.K.: You created one of the most important cycling events in Europe — the Tour de Pologne. Is this a dream come true?
C.L.: I am proud of where I am today and grateful for my journey. I am still close to emotions, competition, and people. It has not always been easy, but the smiles of my family, my wife, my daughter, my granddaughter, and the memories of my parents make it all worth it. I am happy. I have people I love by my side, people with a passion for cycling. I have peace, and that is my luxury.
M.K.: You have achieved a lot, and I have the impression that your most important race is still going on, and you are in the lead…
C.L.: And let it spin as long as possible.
M.K.: Thank you for the interview.
C.L.: Thank you.
