Jan Brzeźny, two‑time Tour de Pologne winner and Olympic cyclist, dies at 75 on his birthday
The Polish cycling great succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at home, his friend Henryk Charucki confirmed. Brzeźny dominated Polish road racing in the 1970s and 1980s and later coached the Ivory Coast national team.
A quiet farewell on his birthday
Jan Brzeźny, a pillar of Polish road cycling, died on 11 June 2026 — his 75th birthday. Radio Wrocław first reported the death. His long‑time friend and former teammate Henryk Charucki said Brzeźny had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and refused hospice care, staying home with medical equipment.
Janek died of ALS. The disease progressed fast and I was with him. He didn’t want to go into a hospice. He had the medical gear at home. We rode our whole careers together — at Dolmel, in the national team, later at Auxerre in France, always sharing a room at races. At the end of the 1980s, when Janek became head coach of the Ivory Coast national team and club coach in Yamoussoukro, he pulled me to Africa too. He was like a brother to me; I spent more time with him than with my real brothers.
A palmarès built on Polish roads
Brzeźny’s palmarès is studded with home‑soil victories. He won the Tour de Pologne twice (1978 and 1981) and in 1978 also became the first Pole to claim the Tour of Britain. A four‑time starter at the Peace Race, he collected stage wins and the mountains classification. At the 1976 Montreal Olympics he placed 30th in the road race. Domestically he gathered 18 national championship medals, including eight golds — individual, mountain, pairs and team titles.
- Joins Legia Warszawa for two seasons
- Begins long stint with Dolmel Wrocław (through 1983)
- Competes at Montreal Olympics (30th in road race) and wins first national individual title
- Wins Tour de Pologne and Tour of Britain
- Claims second Tour de Pologne general classification and second national individual gold
- Becomes Ivory Coast national coach and club coach in Yamoussoukro
- Awarded Silver Cross of Merit for outstanding sporting achievements
- Passes away at home on his 75th birthday
Clubs and the African chapter
He cut his teeth at Huragan Dzierżoniów and later rode for Legia Warszawa (1972‑73) and Dolmel Wrocław (1974‑83), where he became a “shadow” to Polish star Ryszard Szurkowski. After retiring from the saddle, Brzeźny moved to Ivory Coast in the late 1980s to coach the national team and a club in Yamoussoukro, bringing Charucki along as his assistant.
“Forever in our hearts”
The cycling world flooded social media with tributes. Polish Cycling Federation president Marek Leśniewski wrote,
Brzeźny’s niece, professional rider Paulina Brzeźna‑Bentkowska, posted:Farewell, friend! You were an outstanding cyclist.
The Lower Silesian Cycling Association issued a formal statement calling Brzeźny “a legend of the sport” whose “unyielding character and sporting class inspired generations.”Uncle, the peloton up there just gained a brilliant leader. Ahead of you is another, the most beautiful race. Cross the finish line with your hands raised, like you did on earth. Forever in our hearts.
