Edition 2022
Pavel Bittner was narrowly second in the final stage of the Peace Race, Mathias Vacek is third overall.
5.6.2022
Czech cyclist Pavel Bittner fought for a stage win in the Peace Race for the second time but narrowly lost again. After 167 kilometers, he was beaten by a hundredth of a second by Brit Samuel Watson in the sprint finish at Jeseník square. Another Czech cyclist, Mathias Vacek, finished 30th in the main peloton and secured third place overall. The overall winner was Belgian Lennert Van Eetvelt, who excelled in Saturday’s crucial double climb to Dlouhé Stráně.
From the start of today’s final stage, with a total elevation gain of 2,340 meters, the peloton didn’t race aggressively. Various groups of riders broke away, eventually forming a nine-man lead group with a gap of up to eight minutes at one point. However, halfway through the course, the peloton decided to accelerate, began catching the escapees, and eventually caught them shortly before the finish. The cyclists crossed the finish line together. Although the Czech riders tried to improve Mathias Vacek’s overall standing today, they were unsuccessful.
Bittner experienced both joy and slight disappointment today. At the finish, he was initially announced as the winner, but due to the extremely close sprint finish, the judges reviewed the result and ultimately changed the order. The eventual winner, Watson, personally came to inform Bittner of the change. Bittner had no choice but to congratulate him. “I wasn’t sure because some said I was first, then second, but that’s just how it is,” Bittner said without regret. He also finished second in Friday’s stage, which also ended in Jeseník.
“So I’m definitely not disappointed. Today, I crossed the mountain sprint first and still managed to sprint so well. It was close, but these things happen. I believed in myself; it just didn’t quite work out this time.” Bittner shrugged his shoulders. Overall, he evaluated the Peace Race positively. “It couldn’t have gone much better overall. If Maty (Mathias Vacek) had performed just a bit better on Dlouhé stráně yesterday, it could have been even better. But he gave it his all, and the whole team rode superbly for four days. I’m very satisfied,” Bittner added.
Mathias Vacek aimed for the overall victory, but he wasn’t particularly upset after the race. “It could have been a win, but there’s always room for improvement, and hopefully more victories will come in the future,” said Vacek, who won the opening prologue in Jeseníky and finished fourth in the Saturday stage. “I’m satisfied with that. Today, nothing more could have helped me; the guys kept everything under control and were excellent. There wasn’t much more to be done today. There weren’t many tough climbs, so it was hard to create a bigger gap. At the end, the pace was fast, and it wasn’t possible to break away.” evaluated the nineteen-year-old Czech talent.
Mathias Vacek finished fourth in the second stage of the Peace Race and is third overall.
4.6.2022
Czech cyclist Mathias Vacek finished fourth in the second stage of the Peace Race from Bruntál to Dlouhé Stráně (134 km) and moved up to third place overall. The previous leader and fellow Czech cyclist Pavel Bittner finished 49th, over 11 minutes behind, losing the yellow jersey. Belgian Lennert Van Eetvelt took the overall lead after mastering the challenging Dlouhé Stráně climb, which the cyclists tackled twice today.
From the start, the pace was fairly brisk, thanks in part to the Czech riders. Breakaways were attempted but had little chance of success. The double ascent of Dlouhé Stráně involved roughly 1,800 meters of elevation gain, with each climb measuring about 10 kilometers. It was clear that the overall winner would be decided in the final kilometers.
“Today was a real battle,” Mathias Vacek said at the finish, currently 14 seconds behind the yellow jersey. “But the team did an excellent job; we controlled the entire race, the guys worked great, hats off to them—we’re satisfied, it couldn’t have gone better today,” Vacek added. He was greatly helped in the final climb by his brother Karel, whose heroic effort kept him in the leading group of six riders.
“My brother brought me there, but towards the end I started getting cramps and just didn’t have the strength. This climb is extreme,” evaluated Mathias Vacek. “Tomorrow we’ll try to figure out something for the yellow jersey; we’ll give it our all,” he promised. “My brother and I knew we were in great shape—my job was to climb as hard as I could,” added Karel Vacek, who literally fell off his bike from exhaustion at the finish. “After many years, we raced excellently as brothers. Hopefully, people will hear more about us,” he hoped.
Sunday’s final stage takes place around Jeseník, covering 167 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 2,340 meters.
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Pavel Bittner finished second in the first stage of the Peace Race and donned the yellow jersey.
3.6.2022
Czech cyclist Pavel Bittner, although unable to defend last year’s victory in the first stage of the U23 Peace Race, finished a close second on the route from Jeseník to Rýmařov and will wear the yellow jersey as the overall leader. The 131-kilometer stage, featuring a climb to Červenohorské sedlo, was won by Danish rider Kolze Sebastian Changizi, who beat Bittner by 17 hundredths of a second. The previous leader, Mathias Vacek of the Czech team, finished 37th and dropped to fourth place overall.
“We had to take care of a few more things today because we had the yellow jersey in the team. But I wanted to confirm last year’s performance and knew I was capable. I like this finish here and wanted to win,” Bittner said after the race. “But it wasn’t as smooth as last year; I had a worse approach to the finish, so I decided to go for it and sprinted about 300 meters from the corner to the finish. Unfortunately, someone was faster, but I can be satisfied,” declared the new overall race leader. “It’s a great feeling to win at least one stage; it’s an honor,” he added.
His task in Saturday’s stage, finishing on the feared summit of Dlouhé Stráně—which the cyclists will climb twice—is to support Thursday’s prologue winner Mathias Vacek, who aims to contend for overall victory in the race. “I’m really looking forward to it, I like climbs, but I’m not here for the overall classification—I aimed to win today’s stage. Tomorrow, I have to help Mathias, and we’ll see how it goes,” Bittner was clear about that.
Right from the start, Dutchman Owen Geleijn and Slovak Filip Lohinský broke away together, building a lead of up to seven minutes. However, the Slovak slowed down first, and the peloton caught the Dutch rider before reaching Rýmařov. After three laps around Rýmařov, the main peloton arrived at the finish together. Saturday’s stage could decide the overall winner, as it includes two ascents of Dlouhé Stráně, covering 134 kilometers with an elevation gain of 2,770 meters.
The prologue of the U23 Peace Race was won by Czech talent Mathias Vacek.
2.6.2022
Czech talent Mathias Vacek won the first stage of the U23 Peace Race, a prologue held on the streets of Jeseník’s center, and will start Friday’s stage from Jeseník to Rýmařov wearing the leader’s jersey. Vacek completed the 3.4-kilometer course in 4:11.83 minutes, beating Belgian Lennert Van Eetvelt by 11 hundredths of a second. The success of Czech cyclists was further highlighted by Pavel Bittner’s sixth-place finish, just 2.11 seconds behind Vacek.
“I probably couldn’t have done better today,” smiled Vacek, who finished sixth overall in last year’s Peace Race and is aiming for a podium spot this year. “I haven’t had many races recently, so my motivation is even greater.” said the Czech cyclist.
“I was really looking forward to it, so I gave it my all from the start, didn’t run out of energy, and it worked out,” rejoiced the still nineteen-year-old Vacek. “I know there’s always room for improvement, but when you’re first, you don’t look for mistakes. I’m glad the prologue went well; it shows I can perform both on flat terrain and climbs. Hopefully, the next stages will go well too,” he believed.
The second stage on Friday covers 130 kilometers, while the overall winner will likely be decided on Saturday, when the riders face a double ascent of the feared Dlouhé Stráně. The race concludes with a 166-kilometer stage around Jeseník on Sunday.
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SAZKA Tour and Peace Race: International elite at the start
25.4.2022
The U23 Peace Race, a showcase of young and promising cyclists from around the world, will take place again this year in the Jeseník region from June 2 to 5 as part of the Nations’ Cup, the most prestigious international stage event in this age category. The best U23 national teams from Europe and overseas are expected to participate. From August 4 to 7, the SAZKA Tour, the most prestigious road stage race in the Czech Republic, will follow, now including a race for hobby athletes.
The director of both races is Leopold König, a former successful cyclist. “We are convinced that this year’s start list will again feature some future stars,” he says. In the history of the U23 Peace Race, winners have included Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, who won overall in 2018, Giro d’Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart, and two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe. This year, the lineup will also include the current top young Czech riders: Pavel Bittner, who won the first stage last year; the talented Mathias Vacek, who finished sixth overall last year; and another U23 representative, Jakub Ťoupalík.
According to current reports, the Czech national team should be the strongest it has been in recent years, and organizers therefore believe that one of the home cyclists will succeed on domestic soil. “It’s clear that when the race takes place on Czech soil, we trust our local riders. It would definitely attract spectators’ attention and bring joy to everyone,” Leopold König wishes. The last time a Czech rider stood on the overall podium was in 2017 with Michal Schlegel. The final official roster will be announced about a week before the race.
“Sazka supports Czech professional and amateur sports systematically and long-term. We are proud to be part of the family silver that both races represent in the Czech Republic. We also support cycling as a phenomenon embraced by millions of Czechs. That’s why we’re pleased that the SAZKA Tour will include a hobby race,” said Aleš Veselý, CEO of Sazka, the main sponsor of both the Peace Race and the SAZKA Tour.
The feared Dlouhé Stráně awaits cyclists in both races.
The Peace Race will start with the traditional time trial prologue on the streets of Jeseník on June 2. The first stage will lead from Jeseník to Rýmařov, featuring the daunting crossing of Červenohorské sedlo for the first time in seven years. The second stage is set on the Bruntál – Dlouhé Stráně route, and the final stage will start and finish once again in Jeseník. In total, cyclists will cover 450 kilometers and climb more than 6,800 meters. Undoubtedly, the two consecutive climbs of Dlouhé Stráně will be extremely demanding for the riders.
From the UCI rankings, 23 six-member teams were nominated for the Peace Race, including Canada, Spain, Italy, and Belgium, totaling nearly 140 riders. The Czech Republic has guaranteed participation as the organizer, with the exact roster to be announced shortly before the race. Last year, talented Mathias Vacek finished sixth overall, and the last Czech cyclist to stand on the overall podium was Michal Schlegel in 2017. The 2021 winner was Italian Filippo Zana, who later also won the senior SAZKA Tour race.
SAZKA Tour: Elite Teams at the Start
Following the Peace Race in the summer, from August 4 to 7, the SAZKA Tour—the most prestigious road cycling race in the Czech Republic—will take place. It will feature four stages across the Moravian-Silesian, Pardubice, South Moravian, and Zlín regions, as well as Olomouc, including several mountain and sprint prizes. So far, 18 teams have confirmed participation, including two WorldTour teams: Team BikeExchange–Jayco and BORA–hansgrohe.
Leopold König would like to see the SAZKA Tour become part of the World Tour series in the future. “Each edition should bring us closer to that,” said König, who remains the only rider to have won the race twice, in 2010 and 2013. The first stage will run from Uničov to Prostějov, the second will start in Olomouc and finish at Pustevny, the third will take cyclists from Moravská Třebová to Dlouhé Stráně, and the finale will lead from Šumperk to Šternberk.
The race is part of the UCI Europe Tour, which means competitors must hold a license from the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale). The SAZKA Tour will feature 22 teams, selected by race management based on the UCI ranking and current form. In total, over 150 cyclists will start, chosen from the best seven-member professional teams worldwide and in the Czech Republic (WorldTeam, ProTeam, Continental), as well as national teams composed of Elite and U23 category riders.
SAZKA Tour Challenge for Hobby Cyclists
The event will also include the SAZKA Tour Challenge, a 40-kilometer race for the public held on August 6, ahead of the main peloton. Amateurs will tackle two climbs of Dlouhé Stráně, where approximately 1,700 meters of elevation will thoroughly test their physical fitness. A limited number of race numbers are available, and interested participants can register at www.sazkatour.cz starting in May. For those who prefer to ride solo, selected segments of the SAZKA Tour and Peace Race stages are already available to try in the Strava app.
U23 Peace Race:
June 2–5, 2022, 4 stages, 436 kilometers, total elevation gain over 6,800 meters.
SAZKA Tour:
August 4–7, 2022, 4 stages, 714 kilometers, total elevation gain over 10,000 meters. 6. August SAZKA Tour Challenge, 1 stage, 40 kilometers, elevation gain 1,700 meters.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Zdroj: sazkatour.cz
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Edition 2021
Italian Filippo Zana won the U23 Peace Race.
6.6.2021
Italian rider Filippo Zana won this year’s U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseník. In today’s tough and sunny final third stage, which started and finished in Jeseník and covered 168 kilometers, he safely maintained the lead he had built in Saturday’s stage finishing at Dlouhé Stráně. The stage was won by French rider Axel Laurance, followed by Wessel Krul from the Netherlands and Slovak Lukáš Kubiš. Among the Czech riders, Mathias Vacek finished best today in 11th place and secured sixth overall in the Nations Cup series race.
In previous years, the overall standings often shifted significantly during the final stage, but not this time. Although the riders again faced challenging climbs and the course offered few places to rest, a large group contested the stage victory.
During the challenging kilometers, there were no clear signs of the final outcome. The riders were very active; the peloton continuously stretched, split, and regrouped. In Saturday’s stage, the Norwegians lost the race, and today they wanted to make up for it. They had the largest presence in every breakaway and kept attacking relentlessly. At the second mountain sprint, our riders Pavel Bittner and Petr Kelemen fell behind, but eventually, they managed to catch up to the front. At the last mountain sprint, Kelemen even tried to secure the blue jersey for the best climber, earning one point for fifth place; however, German rider Hessman overtook him.
About thirty kilometers from the finish, a six-man group gradually formed, with the Norwegians making up half the riders. However, on the final climb to Rejvíz, the main peloton caught them, and no one managed to break away during the descent into the finish town. It was clear the race would be decided by a bunch sprint, with the Czech team backing stage one winner Bittner. He secured a very promising position but was pushed into the protective barrier by a rival in the last corner, ending his hopes. “It was pretty tough, but luckily I didn’t fall—I just have a bruised arm,” said a frustrated Bittner.
Mathias Vacek also finished in the leading group, which meant he maintained his position in the elite top ten. “The first half of the stage was especially tense and tough. Breakaways kept going off, but the Italians controlled the race. At the second mountain sprint, a group broke away that we weren’t part of, so we had to chase on our own. Considering this was my debut in the U23 category, I’m more than satisfied with how I performed,” commented Vacek on his sixth-place finish.
The national coach, Tomáš Konečný, was also satisfied. “We wanted to win a stage and have someone in the top ten. We achieved both, so I would rate this very positively. Moreover, we had a very young team; all the guys can compete again next year. It is an extremely demanding—” stage race, and nothing is decided until the race is over,” emphasized Konečný.
Results:
Stage 3: Jeseník – Jeseník (163 km):
Results:
3. etapa: Jeseník – Jeseník (168,1 km):
1. Laurence (Fr.) 4:07:40, 2. Krul (Niz.), 3. Kubiš (SR), 4. de Pooter (Belg.), 5. Hansen (Dán.), 6. Hvideberg ((Nor.), …11. M. Vacek, 14. Bouček všichni stejný čas, 34. Bittner +13, 43. Řepa +2:48, 47. Petr Kelemen +3:48, 54. J. Ťoupalík (všichni ČR) +5:15.
Final standings:
1. Zana (It.) 10:42:20, 2. Hočevar (Slovin.) +1:10 3. Clynhens (Belg.) +1:12, 4. Klückers (Luc.) +1:19, 5. Bögli (Švýc.) 1:46, 6. M. Vacek +1:48, …16. Bouček +4:28, 25. Bittenr +6:28, 34. Petr Kelemen +10:00, 35. J. Ťoupalík +10:38, 40. Řepa +12:09.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
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At Dlouhé Stráně, Italian Zana finished first and also leads overall.
5.6.2021
The yellow jersey changed hands in the second stage of the U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseník, which ran from Bruntál to the pumping station at Dlouhé Stráně. After 116 kilometers, young Italian Filippo Zana crossed the finish line with nearly a one-minute lead, taking the jersey from the previous leader, Norwegian Soren Warenskjold. Among the Czech riders, Mathias Vacek performed excellently, finishing seventh and moving up to sixth place in the overall standings.
Although the stage was relatively short, with three mountain prizes and especially two climbs of Dlouhé Stráně, it indicated which riders could aim for a good overall position in the Nations Cup event.
From the start, Spanish cyclists were particularly active, frequently launching breakaways. Riders like Garcia, Lakzano, and especially Mayo Pelayo Sanchez featured prominently. Sanchez won the penultimate mountain sprint with a two-minute lead, where Petr Kelemen finished second. However, neither of them finished in the top fifty at the finish. Nevertheless, Kelemen secured the jersey for the leader of the mountain classification.
The race was decided in the final twenty kilometers during the second ascent of Dlouhé Stráně. The leading group caught Sanchez, and the climbers began to take control on the steep climb. All Czech riders stayed near the front for a long time, and Jakub Bouček attempted a breakaway. However, Italian Filippo Zana quickly broke free at the front and began to pull away from all competitors with incredible ease. Slovenian Kristjan Hočevar chased after him but lacked the strength to catch him. Instead, Belgian Toon Clynhens closed the gap and in the final sprint managed to push the Slovenian rider back to third place.
Among our riders, junior Mathias Vacek kept pace with the leaders the longest last season, and his performance was ultimately rewarded with seventh place and a move into the elite top ten of the overall classification. “We knew today would be very tough. That’s why we didn’t even attempt breakaways; it was clear the race would be decided on the final two climbs. I’m more than satisfied—I didn’t expect to ride this well. I gave it my all today, but another very tough stage awaits us tomorrow, and there was no way to hold back,” said Mathias Vacek.
Petr Kelemen was also satisfied. “I wanted to try to win the leader’s mountain jersey, and I succeeded. Towards the end, it was really all about the legs; the two half-hour climbs were just too much for me.” The Czech national coach, Tomáš Konečný, also had praise for his riders. “Of course, I’m satisfied. We have a very young team here, and the guys showed their strength. They attacked and improved significantly in the overall standings. I think they delivered a great performance.”
Results:
2. etapa: Bruntál – Dlouhé stráně (116,6 km):
1. Zana (It.) 3:14:56, 2. Clynhens (Belg.), 3. Hočevar (Slovin.) oba +53, 4. Klückers (Luc.) +1:09, 5. Vögli (Švýc.) +1:21, 6. Lebreton (Fr.) +1:36, 7. M. Vacek +1:38, …21. Bouček +4:09, 22. Řepa +4:17, 29. J. Ťoupalík +5:11, 35. Petr Kelemen 5:59, 37. Bittner (všichni ČR) +6:26.
Průběžné pořadí:
1. Zana 6:34:40, 2. Hočevar +1:10, 3. Clynhens +1:12, 4. Klückers +1:19, 5. Bögli +1:46, 6. M. Vacek +1:48, …20. Bouček +4:28, 28. J. Ťoupalík +5:23, 34. Petr Kelemen +6:12, 35. Bittner +6:28, 45. Řepa +9:21.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
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Pavel Bittner won the first stage of the U23 Peace Race.
4.6.2021
Czech national rider Pavel Bittner performed excellently in the final sprint of the opening stage of the U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseník. He clearly crossed the finish line first ahead of the main peloton. Following a successful performance at the Grand Prix Orlen last week, where he placed third in the first stage and overall classification, he marked his career highlight in the second Nations Cup event.
“This is my first year in this category, and it’s definitely my biggest achievement—a big step forward. Today feels like a dream. I’m in a good phase and improving. At the front in the finale were five Norwegians, and we had the second lead-out train. It was a bit hectic, but the tactic was set on me in the finale, and I’m happy I didn’t disappoint. In the last few hundred meters, I was in third position and started my sprint about two hundred meters before the line,” said Pavel Bittner, last year’s silver medalist at the Junior European Championships, at the finish.
However, he is aware that Saturday and Sunday will be more about elite climbers. “For me, it will be another unknown, and if I can help the guys, I will do everything for their success,” he hinted that the leaders of the Czech team for the overall classification are others, referring to Mathias Vacek and Petr Kelemen.
Other Czech riders were also visible in the opening stage, which started in Jeseník and finished in Rýmařov over 131 kilometers. Petr Kelemen scored points twice on the mountain primes, while Vojtěch Řepa launched a solo breakaway during the final laps in the finishing town and won one sprint prime.
“The guys delivered an excellent tactical performance. They were visible, raced actively, and most importantly, made the finale very difficult for the opponents. Because they had to chase Řepa, we were able to… save energy for the sprint, and Pavel crowned the effort with the best possible result,” said national coach Tomáš Konečný.
Behind the winner Bittner, Wessel Krul from the Netherlands and Spaniard Jon Golzarri Barrenetxea sprinted to the finish. Prologue winner Soren Warenskjold from Norway crossed the line in 15th place with the same time as the winner, which was enough to securely defend the yellow jersey sponsored by the race’s main partner, Sazka. Bittner moved up to fifth place and also donned the green jersey for the points competition sponsored by Best of British Car.
Results:
1. etapa (Jeseník – Rýmařov):
1. Bittner (ČR) 3:15:36, 2. Krul (Niz.), 3. Barrenetxea (Šp.), 4. Kubiš (SR), 5. Lapeira (Fr.), 6. de Pooter (Belg.), …22. Petr Kelemen, 38. Bouček, 66. J. Ťoupalík, 68. M. Vacek všichni stejný čas, 96. Řepa (všichni ČR) +4:52.
Standings after the first stage:
1. Warenskjold (Nor.) 3:19:37, 3. Krul +5, 3. Vauquelin (Fr.) +6, 4. Heissmann (Něm.) +7, 5. Bittner +9, 6. Lapeira +9, …25. M. Vacek +17, 34. A. Ťoupalík +19, 35. Petr Kelemen +20, 61. Bouček +26. 97. Řepa +5:11.
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
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The U23 Peace Race prologue was won by Norwegian Warenskjold, with Mathias Vacek finishing 28th.
3.6.2021
Norwegian youngster Soren Warenskjold won the opening prologue of this year’s U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseník. He completed the 3.4-kilometer course in Jeseník in 4:01, beating second-place Alex Vogel from Switzerland by 5 seconds, while third place went to France’s Kévin Vauquelin, who was 2 seconds slower. The best Czech representative was Mathias Vacek, finishing 28th, 16 seconds behind the winner.
Nineteen national teams gathered at the start of the second UCI Nations Cup event. Alex Vogel, starting eleventh, held the fastest time on the leaderboard almost until the very end. Warenskjold, starting fourth from last, was the one to surpass him and will begin tomorrow’s stage wearing the yellow jersey as the overall leader. Pavel Bittner started half a minute after Warenskjold but finished 18 seconds behind him.
“Yesterday, we rode the course so the guys could familiarize themselves and today we didn’t want them to take unnecessary risks or crash. The race will be decided somewhere other than the prologue. A prologue like this needs to be ridden at the edge of risk, but we want to compete mainly in the next three days and aim to win a stage. Today was more about warming up. The time gaps don’t mean much; we have two ascents of Dlouhé Stráně ahead, so it will be a matter of minutes. And I’m not surprised Matias was the fastest—after all, he’s the junior European champion. He has the potential, but today’s was basically not a time trial; it was a prologue for sprinters or track riders,” evaluated the prologue Czech national coach Tomáš Konečný.
Results:
Prolog (3,4 km):
1. Warenskjold (Nor.) 4:01, 2. Vogel (Švýc.) +5, 3. Vauquelin +7, 4. Lapeira (oba Fr.) +9, 5. Heissmann (Něm.) +9, 6. Price-Petjersen (Dán.) +9, …28. M. Vacek +16, 38. Bittner +18, 39. J. Ťoupalík +18, 42. Petr Kelemen +20, 51. Řepa +21, 73. Bouček (všichni ČR) +26.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
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Young Czechs Are Among the Favorites for the U23 Peace Race
31.5.2021
The eagerly awaited Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseníky is approaching. It will take place from June 3 to 6, with Jeseník, the region’s capital, serving as the host city. This region is known for its enchanting natural surroundings and numerous tourist attractions. The young Czech national team could be among the favorites for the race.
The team showcased excellent form last weekend at the Polish Nations Cup GP Orlen, where our six riders confirmed their great performance. In Saturday’s first stage, Pavel Bittner finished third, Jakub Ťoupalík ninth, and Petr Kelemen eleventh. On Sunday, in a breakaway group of eleven riders, alongside some of the world’s cycling powerhouses, we had two representatives—Jakub Ťoupalík and Pavel Bittner—who finished impressively in sixth and seventh place, respectively. In the overall classification, Bittner secured third place, and Ťoupalík finished sixth.
This duo will be joined at the Peace Race by, among others, European U23 bronze medalist Vojtěch Řepa, European junior champion Mathias Vacek, as well as Petr Kelemen and Jakub Bouček. It seems a new, excellent generation of young cyclists is emerging, eager to compete for top honors at home in Jeseníky.
The U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseníky, part of the UCI Nations Cup for riders under 23 and the second of four races held from late May to late August this year, has showcased the best promising talents in U23 cycling in recent years, including Tadej Pogačar, Julian Alaphilippe, Marc Hirschi, David Gaudu, and other outstanding cyclists.
“It really means a lot to us that the Czech Republic hosts such an important cycling event for the under-23 category. Through this race and by organizing the Sazka Tour, we significantly contribute to the development of youth categories, which are crucial for nurturing new champions for the professional peloton,” emphasizes the director of both races, Leopold König.
Alongside the Czech national team, national squads from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland will compete in the U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseníky.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
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Sazka is the new general partner of the Peace Race.
20.5.2021
Lottery company Sazka is becoming the general partner of the prestigious U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Jeseníky starting this year. The race will take place from June 3 to 6, featuring slightly modified routes.
“I’m very pleased that Sazka can support this unique race, which, since its revival in 2013, has built a reputation as an event that produces future stars,” said Robert Kolář, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the U23 Peace Race and Member of the Supervisory Board of SAZKA, commenting on the new partnership.
The race for riders under 23 truly produces stars. Those who succeed in Jeseníky often go on to compete regularly in WorldTour teams. This event is also part of the Nations’ Cup, a series of the most prestigious races in this age category. As usual, the Peace Race will be contested in national jerseys this year, fostering healthy team rivalries. Twenty-one national teams have confirmed participation, ensuring it will be a spectacular event for spectators as well.
In addition to the new general partner, the routes of the individual stages will also see some changes this year, though only minor ones. The opening 3.5-kilometer prologue will start at Masaryk Square in Jeseník. New features include a mountain prime at Přemyslovské Sedlo and a two-kilometer climb in Maršíkov before the longest eleven-kilometer ascent to Skřítek.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz, sazka.cz/
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Edition 2019
Norwegian Andreas Leknessund won the U23 Peace Race.
9.6.2019
The winner of the seventh edition of the U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Priessnitz Spa, part of the UCI Under 23 Nations’ Cup—the highest global competition for riders under 23—was Norwegian Andreas Leknessund. He became the representative of the seventh country to ever win this prestigious event.
The second weekend of June was filled with sporting spirit for our team, as the prestigious U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Priessnitz Spa 2019 took place. As proud general partners, we congratulate all participants and winners.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
FB: facebook.com/ZavodMiruU23/
Edition 2018
Slovenian Tadej Pogačar won the U23 Peace Race.
3.6.2018
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar delivered a perfect checkmate to all rivals in this year’s U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Priessnitz Spa. Before today’s stage, starting and finishing in Jeseník, he was sixth overall, 32 seconds behind the leader. After winning the stage and gaining over a minute on his competitors, he celebrated the overall victory. The best Czech rider was Jakub Otruba, who finished 24th.
We are pleased to have supported both our domestic and international cyclists once again at the Peace Race. As proud general partners, we congratulate all participants and winners of the 2018 U23 Peace Race.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
FB: facebook.com/ZavodMiruU23/
Ročník 2017
Belgian Bjorg Lambrecht won the U23 Peace Race.
4.6.2017
The winner of the fifth edition of the U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Priessnitz Spa / Course de la Paix U23 was Belgian rider Bjorg Lambrecht, who took the yellow jersey after the Saturday queen stage. Czech rider Michal Schlegel performed excellently again today, finishing sixth in the stage that started and finished in Jeseník and moving up to an impressive second place overall.
As proud general partners, we congratulate all participants and winners.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
FB: facebook.com/ZavodMiruU23/
Edition 2016
Francouz David Gaudu vyhrál Závod míru U23
5.6.2016
The winner of the 2016 U23 Peace Race was Frenchman David Gaudu. He secured the pink jersey in the final moments of the last stage, a 160-kilometer route starting and finishing in Jeseník, during which Czech rider Michal Schlegel virtually held the jersey for much of the race. Schlegel was in a long breakaway, but his group was caught by rivals just eight kilometers before the finish. The stage was won by Belgian Bjorg Lambrecht, while Schlegel finished 22nd on the day and 11th overall.
As proud general partners, we congratulate all participants and winners of the 2016 U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Priessnitz Spa.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
FB: facebook.com/ZavodMiruU23/
Edition 2015
Austrian Gregor Mühlberger won the U23 Peace Race.
31.5.2015
The winner of the 2015 U23 Peace Race was Austrian rider Gregor Mühlberger, who claimed victory by the narrowest margin. More precisely, he won thanks to a better cumulative placement across all stages, as Belgian Loic Vliegen had the exact same time after three stages and 395 kilometers. Third place went to Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking, while the best Czech rider, as expected, was Josef Černý, who finished eleventh.
As proud general partners, we congratulate all participants and winners of the 2015 U23 Peace Race Grand Prix Priessnitz Spa.
PHOTO Jan Brychta
Source: zavodmiruu23.cz
FB: facebook.com/ZavodMiruU23/