The first thing to know about Ewa is that she is quick to describe herself as an amateur. Her cycling story didn’t begin in childhood or with years of racing. In fact, it began with wondering about one’s limits. “I’ve never been a typical sport person; I simply do ‘things’,” she quips. That’s why she was the perfect fit for our newest challenge, The Unseen Stage.
For Ewa, who is getting ready for the L’Étape Poland 2026, saying yes to the challenge was less about competition and more about rediscovering momentum. “I needed to kick things back into gear,” she admits. “I needed a boost to return to activity, to leave my routine behind and try something new.” Having never entered an organised cycling event before, the idea of preparing for L’Étape felt both unfamiliar and exciting. “I’ve never tried any competitions like this before, so it’s fascinating to see what it will be like.” Her adventures have often been on the longer side and self-directed: completing the 500-kilometre Główny Szlak Beskidzki mountain trail, choosing multi-day hikes through the mountains, and eventually dreaming up a bike ride across Poland – before she even owned a bicycle.
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“I envisioned a 1,000 km ride across Poland without any training,” she recalls. “I didn’t even have my own bike at that time; I borrowed one and just set out.” That trip, stretching across the entire country in roughly a week, was less about speed and more about endurance and curiosity. Somewhere along the route, she realised she liked cycling enough to actually buy a bike, learn about kit and clip-in shoes, and start planning new routes. Still, she insists she’s far from a pro.
If there’s one trait she counts on for the months ahead, it’s persistence. “I definitely know that I’m stubborn,” she says. That stubbornness will likely be tested. Zwolska now runs a mountain hut, a role where work rarely follows a neat schedule. “Things with running a mountain hut never end,” she laughs, acknowledging that finding training time may be her greatest obstacle.
Her solution is deceptively simple: “I don’t have a strategy. I never have a strategy; I let things happen.” Yet she trusts that once a structured training plan is in place, she’ll follow it. “Regardless of my daily tasks, I’ll stick to it, even if that means training after work or waking up early.”
At its heart, Zwolska’s participation in The Unseen Stage isn’t about beating anyone else. It’s about proving something quietly to herself. “I would really like to finish this task,” she says. “I don’t want to give up. I want to do my workouts, even when I don’t have time.” She has never raced before and doesn’t yet know what it will feel like to line up among hundreds of riders. That uncertainty, however, is part of the appeal. “My goal is simply to reach the finish line,” she explains. “I want to show myself that I can do it if I really want to, even just in terms of training and discipline.”
In the weeks ahead, The Unseen Stage will follow Zwolska’s journey as she squeezes long rides between the demands of running a sought-after mountain cabin and everyday life. No flashy pro lifestyle, no training camps in Mallorca – just the steady rhythm of consistent daily effort.
Will Ewa achieve her goals? On the dedicated The Unseen Stage website, you can cast a guesstimate vote of “yes” or “no” on whether she will cross the L’Étape finish line. By doing so, you will enter a draw for a high-end Superior bike or a one-year TrainingPeaks subscription!
