From January 29 to February 1, Łódź hosted the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour —a prestigious international equestrian competition series—for the first time. For four days, the Atlas Arena and Sport Arena became the venue for top-level sporting excitement, attracting riders, technical teams, and fans from all over Poland and Europe. CAVALIADA’s debut in Łódź proved to be both a sporting success and an event of significant promotional and economic importance for the city.
The highlight of the competition was the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour Grand Prix Łódź, a FEI-ranked event, which ended in a spectacular success for the Polish team. Jarosław Skrzyczyński took the victory, and the entire podium was dominated by the Polish riders— Wojciech Wojcianiec finished second, and Dawid Skiba third. Thirty-seven pairs from 12 countries competed in the event, and the 150-cm course, designed by German course designer Marco Hesse, kept both the riders and the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end.
“This victory has been a long time coming. I’ve finished third and second here before, and today I’m finally first. The CAVALIADA crowd is wonderful, and I can always count on them,” said Jarosław Skrzyczyński after the competition.
The excellent form of the Polish riders was also evident in the overall standings heading into the final in Kraków. Maksymilian Wechta remains in the lead, ahead of Marek Lewicki, while the winner of the Łódź Grand Prix, Jarosław Skrzyczyński, has moved up to third place.
There was also plenty of excitement surrounding the Perlage CAVALIADA Future youth competitions. Kacper Seroczyński won the MINI category, while Blanka Pellowska took first place in the MIDI category, taking the lead in the overall standings. Lithuanian rider Matas Petraitis triumphed in the Challenge Cup, ahead of Jarosław Skrzyczyński and Dutch rider Fleur Holleman.
However, CAVALIADA in Łódź is not just about athletic achievements; it is also an event with a broad impact on the city. Several hundred athletes and technical staff, as well as fans, came to Łódź, which led to increased occupancy at hotels, restaurants, and local service providers. The event confirmed that Łódź successfully attracts premium events with an international reach, combining sports, entertainment, and family-friendly activities.
The debut of the Perlage CAVALIADA Tour at Atlas Arena demonstrated the city’s potential as a host for the largest sporting and entertainment events in Central Europe. This event has made its mark on Łódź’s calendar not only as a sporting celebration, but also as a tangible promotional and economic boost for the city.
Photo by Radosław Jóźwiak
