Edition 2023.

The race will take place from August 4 to 7, with the first stage starting in the town of Uničov in the Olomouc region. Over the following days, cyclists will ride through the beautiful Moravian landscape, with the finish line awaiting them in the town of Šternberk. In total, the athletes will cover a distance of 731 kilometers with an elevation gain of 12,600 meters.

The beauty of nature.

In addition to the athletic performances, spectators may also be drawn in by the route itself. It passes through attractive locations such as the Bumbálka mountain pass, the popular Červenohorské sedlo ski resort, and the Pustevny pass, known for its fairytale-like wooden architecture.

Last year, the race featured 140 riders from twenty of the top Czech and international professional cycling teams, including WorldTeams, and this year the lineup is expected to be even more exclusive. And it’s not just for professionals—amateur cyclists will also get their chance to shine.

Try one of the most challenging sections.

Starting this year, the event also includes the CZECH Tour Challenge. This 12-kilometer race will take place on August 6 ahead of the main peloton, on one of the most feared segments—the climb to Dlouhé stráně.

“We want to give amateur cyclists the opportunity to feel how tough the climb really is. They’ll experience a steep ascent and be able to compare themselves to one another—or even to the top riders in the main peloton. This way, they’ll get a firsthand look at the race’s difficulty and most likely feel quite a bit of pain,” explained Leopold König, former Czech cyclist, winner of the second and fifth editions of the CZECH Tour, and now the race director.

Cheer with us!

Want to be part of it with us? We’d love to see you there! For more information about the CZECH Tour, click on this link.

Autor úvodní fotografie: Jan Brychta.

Edition 2022

Kukrle finished second after a breakaway in the final stage of the CZECH Tour, with Rota taking the overall victory.

Czech cyclist Michael Kukrle from the Elkov Kasper team finished second in today’s final stage of the CZECH Tour. The Tour covered 180 kilometers and led from Šumperk to Šternberk, with a total elevation gain of 2,720 meters. The final stage was won by Frenchman Alexis Guerin after a breakaway.

The overall race leader, Italian Lorenzo Rota, had to change his bike during the stage, but with the help of his teammates, he managed to close the gap to the leading group. He finished third today and narrowly held onto the yellow jersey as the overall winner of the prestigious stage race. At the finish line, he beat Denmark’s Anthon Charmig—his closest rival in the general classification—by just three hundredths of a second. The best Czech rider overall, Jan Hirt, finished 21st today and ranked 11th in the final standings.

“Today is my lucky day. The team worked hard for four days, and it paid off.” Rota rejoiced, having been behind Charmig just a few meters before the finish line, only overtaking him right at the line. “It was tough, but I’m satisfied. Today’s breakaway wasn’t a problem—we knew we’d catch it—but the finale was dramatic.” said the leader of the Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux team.

Roughly twenty kilometers after the start, the peloton split into several groups. The leading group included more than ten riders, among them three Czechs—Kukrle, Daniel Turek, and Karel Camrda. The breakaway maintained its lead for most of the stage, and Dutch rider Mathijs Paaschens posed a threat to the yellow jersey of Italian Lorenzo Rota. However, the team remained calm, even when the peloton’s gap reached nearly five minutes at times. Toward the end of the stage, it was Czech cyclist Jan Hirt who played a key role in chasing down the lead group and breaking up the field.

Approximately 60 kilometers before the finish, two riders—Guerin and Kukrle, who won the final stage of the CZECH Tour in 2018—broke away from the leading group. Their daring move looked very promising, and the peloton ultimately failed to catch them. Tokyo Olympian Kukrle was unable to respond to the French rider’s final attack and crossed the line in second place, four seconds behind. In the final kilometers, the field fractured significantly, with Rota finishing another 24 seconds back.

“The breakaway took a long time to form and was really tough. They were chasing us hard—it was very difficult to get into it. We had to go really fast over the first three climbs,” Kukrle said at the finish. He broke away from the large group before Moravský Beroun, gained a gap, and was joined by Guerin. “I was glad he came—we worked together all the way to the last climb,” Kukrle added. While he was disappointed with third place in the first stage, today he was satisfied. “He was stronger today, had better legs—I didn’t have anything more to give,” he admitted.

Even before the race, Kukrle had confidence in the first and final stages. “I’m glad it worked out, that I was visible, and that I achieved good results. I could have ridden the final of the first stage differently, but today it was all about performance—there was no way to do it better. I believe these results will help me in the rest of the season. My main focus is preparing for the World Championships—that’s a big motivation for me,” he said. Kukrle added.

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/vysledky

Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Source: CZECH Tour

Eleventh-placed Hirt helped Rota retain the yellow jersey in the CZECH Tour.

Czech cyclist Jan Hirt helped his teammate Lorenzo Rota secure sixth place on the climb to Dlouhé stráně, assisting him in retaining the yellow jersey as the overall leader of the CZECH Tour. Hirt finished eleventh in the third stage and was particularly active on the final climb. The 150-kilometer stage from Moravská Třebová, featuring 2,730 meters of elevation gain, was won by Belgium’s Kamiel Bonneu, who narrowly beat Denmark’s Anthon Charmig in a close finish.

Shortly after the start, a large breakaway group of twelve riders formed, including four Czechs. They held their lead for a long time, but around thirty kilometers before the finish, during the first climb to Dlouhé stráně, they were caught. The main peloton regrouped and began the second ascent of the notorious climb in the Jeseníky Mountains together. It then split apart, with riders from the Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux team being particularly active.

Hirt felt much better today than in the previous stages. “It was good—I could have gone for a result myself,” Hirt said. However, his main task was to support his teammates. “I think I could have attacked today, but on the final climb I was setting the pace for the guys, and I’m really glad it worked out and we managed to keep the yellow jersey, even though we missed out on the podium. Others had better legs in the final. But it was a good race today—the improved weather was quite nice, it cooled us down a bit, and thankfully we didn’t get caught in the rain,” he said. Hirt reflected.

The final Sunday stage of the CZECH Tour covers 180 kilometers from Šumperk to Šternberk and includes 2,720 meters of elevation gain. The route features several challenging climbs, but it is expected that Hirt’s team will control the race to defend the overall lead. “Tomorrow’s stage should suit our guys better, it has a more technical finish, so I believe we can hold on,” added Hirt, who will be riding for the top-tier Quick Step team next year.

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/vysledky

Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Source: CZECH Tour

Rota won the second stage of the CZECH Tour, with Hirt—who finished seventeenth—playing a key role in his victory.

Shortly after the start, a group of several riders broke away from the main peloton. There were no Czech riders among them, but the five-man group built a lead of over six minutes at one point and held it almost until the final climb. However, the peloton caught them there, and the second and final ascent to Pustevny reshuffled the standings.

Hirt was very active, assisting his teammates during the climb, but in the final stretch, he couldn’t keep up. “I wanted to be a bit higher up, but today was really about teamwork. It’s great that we have a stage winner and another rider in third place,” he said. Hirt commented on the stage. “The strategy before the race was clear—I would ride in support of the guys. Rota was very active and managed to see it through to the end. I’m happy; we’re doing well as a team, and that’s what matters most,” he said.

On Saturday, the riders will face the queen stage from Moravská Třebová to Dlouhé stráně, which they will climb twice. The stage is 150 kilometers long, with a total elevation gain of 2,730 meters—mostly in the second half. “It’s going to be tough, but we won’t ride defensively—we definitely want to go for the win again as a team and keep the yellow jersey. I also want to be right up there. And we still need to complete the podium with a second-place finish,” he said. wished Hirt with a smile, who will be riding for the top-tier team Quick Step next year.

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/vysledky

Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Source: CZECH Tour

Kukrle finished third in the first stage, which was won by Belgian rider Herregodts.

Michael Kukrle reached the podium in the opening stage of the CZECH Tour, a prestigious cycling race whose first leg took place today from Uničov to Prostějov, covering 181.5 kilometers. The Elkov Kasper rider finished third in the final sprint of a five-man group that narrowly caught the breakaway just before the finish line. The stage was won by Belgian Rune Herregodts, ahead of fellow countryman Johan Meens. The biggest Czech star of the race, Jan Hirt, finished in the main peloton in 76th place.

Kukrle, a participant in the Tokyo Olympics, was part of a group that broke away shortly after the start and unexpectedly managed to hold its lead all the way to the finish. “I knew it was going to be tough—it was up and down—but I wanted to give it a shot and try to win the stage, even though I didn’t think the breakaway had much chance of success,” Kukrle said. “And when we actually made it to the finish, I couldn’t manage to win, so I’m not entirely satisfied with how it turned out,” he added.

The second Czech rider in the breakaway group, Jan Kašpar, finished fourth, losing the sprint for third place to Kukrle. Young sprinter Pavel Bittner also made it into the top ten, finishing eighth. “Tomorrow things will change, today’s gap won’t matter, and we won’t be in the overall standings,” anticipated Kukrle, who had similarly broken away from the peloton at the Tokyo Olympics. “Today was pretty painful, though—I was sick a month ago and I’m still not in top form. Tomorrow we’ll ride for Honza Bárta and Kuba Otruba, and we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

The second stage starts on Friday at Horní náměstí in Olomouc and will finish on the well-known climb of Pustevny, which the riders will tackle twice during the stage. In total, they will cover 189.3 kilometers and face 2,910 meters of elevation gain, which will undoubtedly shake up the overall standings.

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/vysledky

Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Edition 2021

Zana defended his overall victory at the CZECH Tour, while Johannessen claimed another stage win.

Young Italian Filippo Zana from the Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè team successfully defended the yellow jersey for the best overall rider in the final stage of the CZECH Tour. The stage, just under 175 kilometers long, ran from Šumperk to Šternberk and was won by Norwegian Tobias Halland Johannessen of the UNO-X Pro Cycling Team, ahead of Zana. In third place, to the delight of Czech fans, was Adam Ťoupalík from Elkov Kasper. The best-placed Czech rider overall was Jan Hirt (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux), who finished seventh.

The peloton faced a total of eight mountain primes. The stage began with well-known climbs in the Jeseníky region, such as Červenohorské sedlo, Vidly, Lyra, and Hvězda. The finale included four categorized climbs on the Ecce Homo circuit in the finish town of Šternberk.
After the first mountain prime on Bratrušov Hill, a group of five riders broke away from the main field: New Zealander Jack Bauer, Daniel Turek, Dutchman Jen van den Dool, Serbian Veljko Stojnić, and Pole Pawel Cieslik. They were later joined by Belgian Jan Bakelants. This group of six maintained a consistent gap of around two and a half minutes, which only started to decrease as the race approached the finishing circuits near Šternberk.

With the first pass through the finish area, the breakaway was caught, and a lead group of 40 riders formed, including all the top contenders in the general classification. Elkov Kasper showed its strength in the finale, with Adam Ťoupalík taking third place and teammates Jakub Otruba, Michael Kukrle, and Jan Bárta finishing sixth through eighth. Zana completed a successful campaign on Czech roads, having also dominated the U23 Peace Race two months earlier.
As the riders entered the final lap, Kukrle launched an attack, but his small lead was quickly neutralized by the chasing group. At that moment, the strongest duo made their move, gained a few meters, and managed to hold their advantage all the way to the finish line—repeating the top two placements from Saturday’s stage to Dlouhé stráně. On the way to Šternberk, the wind was strong, and the peloton was nervous, so the gap started to shrink quickly. On the first descent into Šternberk, we moved to the front and tried to conserve as much energy as possible. There were enough of us, so we launched some attacks. Honza Bárta was the first to try, and on the entry into the final lap, Michael Kukrle attacked—he had already won a stage here in 2018—and quickly gained a 15-second lead. In the end, though, the two strongest riders caught him, and no one else could keep up. The guys set me up perfectly for the finale, and just like last year, I ended up in third place. ” summarized Adam Ťoupalík, who finished third in the fourth stage of the CZECH Tour.

Despite finishing as the highest-placed Czech rider in the overall standings, Jan Hirt showed little enthusiasm. “I definitely didn’t come to the race with the goal of being the best Czech rider. It’s a really nice race, but I just needed to be in better form. The result isn’t that bad, but it’s not something I’d brag about either,” he said

Results:

Stage 4: Šumperk – Šternberk (174.1 km):
Tobias Halland Johannessen (Norway / Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) – 4:21:18
Filippo Zana (Italy / Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) – same time
Adam Ťoupalík (Elkov Kasper) – +0:04
Jan Maas (Netherlands / Leopard Pro Cycling) – +0:04
Davide Gabburo (Italy / Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) – +0:05
Jakub Otruba (Elkov Kasper) – +0:05
Michael Kukrle (Elkov Kasper) – +0:05
Jan Bárta (Elkov Kasper) – +0:05
…
Jan Hirt (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux) – +0:09
Tomáš Neuman – +1:54
Matěj Zahálka – +3:43
Petr Kelemen (Elkov Kasper) – +4:34
Mathias Vacek (Gazprom – RusVelo) – +8:05
Daniel Turek (Team Felbermayr – Simplon Wels) – +8:05

Final General Classification:
Filippo Zana – 16:45:21
Tobias Halland Johannessen – +0:15
Rein Taaramäe (Estonia / Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux) – +0:40
Nick Schultz (Australia / Team BikeExchange) – +0:43
Riccardo Zoidl (Austria / Team Felbermayr–Simplon Wels) – +1:04
Luca Covili (Italy / Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) – +1:30
Jan Hirt – +1:34
…
Michael Kukrle – +2:27
Jakub Otruba – +2:44
Adam Ťoupalík – +2:50
Jan Bárta – +3:59
Matěj Zahálka – +22:41
Daniel Turek – +22:52
Tomáš Neuman – +22:58
Petr Kelemen – +28:10
Mathias Vacek – +43:36

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/vysledky

Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Zana Takes the Yellow Jersey at the CZECH Tour, Johannessen Fastest on Dlouhé stráně

Disappointed not to claim a stage win, yet satisfied with taking the lead in the overall classification—that sums up the final moments as experienced by young Italian Filippo Zana (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) during the third stage of the CZECH Tour. In the closing meters of the climb to Dlouhé stráně, he was overtaken by Norwegian Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team). Among the Czech riders, Jan Hirt (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux) was once again the best, finishing seventh on the stage and holding the same position in the general classification ahead of the final day.

For the second time in this year’s edition, the organizers placed the finish atop a climb, making it clear that climbers would take center stage. Right from the start in Moravská Třebová, the riders set out at a brisk pace to tackle just under 144 kilometers. There were numerous breakaway attempts, but after the first major climb, a group of six riders successfully broke free—including Dominik Neuman (Elkov Kasper), who rode very aggressively. He claimed two second places on the mountain primes in Horní Město and Skřítek, and even won the sole intermediate sprint, earning him a spot on the podium as the most active rider of the stage.

However, the breakaway group never managed to build a lead of even three minutes, and during the first ascent to Dlouhé stráně, the peloton reeled them in. On the 10-kilometer climb, a leading group of around twenty riders emerged, including three Elkov Kasper riders—Adam Ťoupalík, Michael Kukrle, and Jakub Otruba—as well as Jan Hirt and other top contenders.

On the second ascent, things were looking promising for Kukrle, who was in a breakaway with two other riders, but they were caught seven kilometers before the finish. Shortly afterward, Filippo Zana and Tobias Halland Johannessen broke away from the rest and battled for the win all the way to the final meters. About 500 meters from the finish, Zana launched an attack, gained a gap, and looked set for a double victory on Dlouhé stráně, having already won there two months earlier at the U23 Peace Race. But this time, he fell short as Johannessen powered past him in the steepest section near the top. Estonian Rein Taaramäe (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux) finished third, half a minute behind. The race leader, Australian Nicholas Schultz (Team BikeExchange), finished fourth, 40 seconds down, and dropped to the same position in the general classification.

The quartet of riders from the top Czech team Elkov Kasper—Jakub Otruba, Michael Kukrle, Adam Ťoupalík, and Jan Bárta—finished in the second ten and hold similar positions in the overall classification. “I think it was a good performance from our side. The four of us riding for the overall classification were all up there and showed a solid effort. This year’s race clearly favors climbers, which we’re not. The course would have suited Michal Schlegel, but unfortunately, he’s not here for well-known reasons. But the race isn’t over yet—it finishes tomorrow in Šternberk, and a lot can still change. We’re not giving up, he said. ” said Michal Otruba, who finished fourteenth, at the finish line.

Results:

Stage 3: Moravská Třebová – Dlouhé stráně (143.2 km):
Tobias Halland Johannessen (Norway / Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) – 3:48:41
Filippo Zana (Italy / Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) – +0:03
Rein Taaramäe (Estonia / Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux) – +0:29
Nicholas Schultz (Australia / Team BikeExchange) – +0:40
Riccardo Zoidl (Austria / Team Felbermayr–Simplon Wels) – +0:40
Luca Covili (Italy / Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) – +0:53
Jan Hirt (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux) – +1:12
…
Jakub Otruba – +1:52
Michael Kukrle – +1:52
Adam Ťoupalík – +2:22
Jan Bárta – +2:22
Matěj Zahálka (all Elkov Kasper) – +14:04
Daniel Turek (Team Felbermayr–Simplon Wels) – +14:04
Dominik Neuman – +14:04
Petr Kelemen (both Elkov Kasper) – +16:12
Mathias Vacek (Gazprom–RusVelo) – +21:18

General Classification after Stage 3:
Filippo Zana – 12:24:09
Tobias Halland Johannessen – +0:22
Rein Taaramäe – +0:29
Nicholas Schultz – +0:30
Riccardo Zoidl – +0:49
Luca Covili – +1:05
Jan Hirt – +1:19
…
Michael Kukrle – +2:16
Jakub Otruba – +2:33
Adam Ťoupalík – +2:44
Jan Bárta – +3:48
Daniel Turek – +14:47
Matěj Zahálka – +18:52
Dominik Neuman – +20:58
Petr Kelemen – +23:30
Mathias Vacek – +35:25

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/vysledky

Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Source: CZECH Tour

Nicholas Schultz (Team BikeExchange) wins on Pustevny and takes the overall lead.

The first breakaway formed fairly quickly, featuring Serbian rider Veljko Stojnić, David Per from Slovenia, and Polish rider Sylwester Janiszewski. Janiszewski won the first intermediate sprint but soon couldn’t keep up with the other two. The peloton remained calm, allowing the break to build a lead of up to five and a half minutes.

The real racing began only after the stage crossed into its second half. After the first pass over Pustevny, a duo from the Norwegian Uno-X Pro Cycling Team—Idar Andersen and Jonas Hvideberg—chased down the leading pair and successfully joined them, while Per dropped off. By that time, the peloton had picked up the pace, driven by riders from the WorldTour teams Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux and Team BikeExchange, as well as the Czech team Elkov Kasper.

The first to drop from the front trio was Andersen, followed by Stojnić, leaving Hvideberg to resist the longest—yet even his effort ended eight kilometers before the finish. The decisive moment came during the second ascent to Pustevny, where the front of the race splintered into individual riders. In the final few hundred meters, Nicholas Schultz had the most power, crossing the finish line with a seven-second lead over Filippo Zana of Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè, the recent winner of the U23 Peace Race, and Rein Taaramäe, teammate of Jan Hirt from Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux. Among the Czech riders, Adam Ťoupalík, Michael Kukrle, Jakub Otruba (all Elkov Kasper), and Daniel Turek (Team Felbermayr–Simplon Wels) finished in the second ten with a slight time gap.

„We didn’t have any special tactics. We wanted to launch attacks individually, but our opponents didn’t let us into the breakaway. I ended up at the front with Rein, but the strongest rider won—and that was Nicholas Schultz (Team BikeExchange). I haven’t raced much since the Giro, and the second half of the season is usually weaker for me. But today was good. Of course, we wanted to win, but the winner was stronger. The stage came down to the final climb. We’ll see how things unfold tomorrow, he said. ” said Jan Hirt, who will wear the red jersey for the best Czech rider in Saturday’s stage.

Results:

2. etapa: Olomouc – Pustevny (203,4 km):
1. Schultz (Austr./Team BikeExchange) 5:00:28, 2. Zana (It./Bardiani-CSF-Faizane) +7, 3. Taaramae ((Est./Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) +10, 4. Hirt (ČR/Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) +17, 5. Zoidl (Rak./Team Felbermayr – Simplon) +19, 6. Covili (It./Luca Bardiani-CSF-Faizane) +22, …11. A. Ťoupalík +32, 13. Kukrle +34, 17. Otruba (všichni Elkov Kasper) +51, 18. Turek (ČR/Team Felbermayr – Simplon Wels) +53, 30. J. Bárta +1:36, 55. Zahálka, 56. Petr Kelemen oba +4:58, 68. Neuman (všichni Elkov Kasper) +7:04, 83. M. Vacek (ČR/Gazprom – RusVelo) +11:46.

General Classification after Stage 2:
Nicholas Schultz – 8:35:18
Filippo Zana – +0:07
Rein Taaramäe – +0:10
Jan Hirt – +0:17
Riccardo Zoidl – +0:19
Davide Gabburo (Italy / Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) – +0:22
…
Adam Ťoupalík – +0:32
Michael Kukrle – +0:34
Jakub Otruba – +0:51
Daniel Turek – +0:53
Jan Bárta – +1:36
Matěj Zahálka – +4:58
Dominik Neuman – +7:04
Petr Kelemen – +7:28
Mathias Vacek – +14:17

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/vysledky

Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Source: CZECH Tour

Huppertz Wins Opening Stage of the CZECH Tour

German rider Joshua Huppertz from Team Lotto–Kern Haus claimed victory in the opening stage of the CZECH Tour. The stage, which ran from Prostějov to Uničov over 150.8 kilometers, ended in a close sprint where he edged out Norwegian Idar Andersen from Uno-X Pro Cycling Team. The best-placed Czech rider was Dominik Neuman (Elkov Kasper), who finished fifth.

Seven kilometers after the start, the riders returned to Prostějov for the first intermediate sprint, which was won by Luxembourg’s Colin Heiderscheid, with Petr Kelemen (Elkov Kasper) taking third place. Almost immediately afterward, the first breakaway formed—and as it turned out, it was the decisive moment of the stage. The group included Joshua Huppertz, Idar Andersen, German rider Tom Lindner, Dutchman Adne Koster, and Polish rider Damien Papierski.

The weather was far from kind to the riders—rain fell almost the entire time, at times very heavily, and the temperature never rose above 15 degrees Celsius. The breakaway group managed to build a lead of three and a half minutes. During the climb to the first mountain prime in Veselí at the 105-kilometer mark, Koster and Papierski dropped off, but the remaining trio bravely held on. By the second mountain prime in Bouzov, their lead had significantly shrunk—first to one minute, then to thirty seconds—and it seemed only a matter of time before they would succumb to the pressure of the chasing peloton.

But the trio kept fighting, and with no one in the main field eager to lead the chase, they managed to hold their slim advantage all the way to the finish line. On the long final straight, Lindner couldn’t keep up, leaving the remaining duo to sprint to the very last meter—Huppertz proved to be the stronger and will wear the yellow leader’s jersey in the second stage. The main group was brought to the finish by German Jonas Koch (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert), followed closely by Neuman. Rounding out the top ten was his teammate and Olympian, Michael Kukrle, who finished in seventh place.

„I’m satisfied—except for the fact that we couldn’t catch the leading trio. Otherwise, we would have been on the podium. Neuman finished ninth here last year, and today he was second in the bunch sprint, plus Kukrle was right there with him. After a long journey back from the Olympics, he showed he’s in good shape. ” said Elkov Kasper coach Otakar Fiala.

Results:

etapa: Prostějov – Uničov (150,8 km):
Results:
Joshua Huppertz (GER / Team Lotto – Kern Haus) – 3:34:35
Idar Andersen (NOR / Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) – same time
Tom Lindner (GER / Metalltechnik) – +0:01
Jonas Koch (GER / Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert)
Dominik Neuman (CZE / Elkov–Kasper)
Søren Wærenskjold Urianstad (NOR / Uno-X Pro Cycling Team)
Michael Kukrle (CZE / Elkov–Kasper)
…
Adam Ťoupalík (CZE / Elkov–Kasper)
Jan Bárta (CZE / Elkov–Kasper)
Jakub Otruba (CZE / Elkov–Kasper)
Jan Hirt (CZE / Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert)
Daniel Turek (CZE / Team Felbermayr – Simplon Wels)
Matěj Zahálka (CZE / Elkov–Kasper) – all +0:15
Petr Kelemen (CZE / Elkov–Kasper) – +2:46

You can find the complete start list under the “Teams” / Start list tab:
🔗 https://sazkatour.cz/cs/tymy
Full results are available here:
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Photo credit: Jan Brychta / CZECH Tour

Czech Tour is rebranding to CZECH Tour.

The largest and traditionally best-attended cycling race on Czech roads is changing its name. The 13th edition of this UCI 1st category stage race will no longer be known as the Czech Tour, but from this year onward will carry the name CZECH Tour. The race will take place across four regions from August 5–8, 2021.

This year, the organizers once again promise an exceptional sporting experience, along with a highly engaging accompanying program. For 2021, they have prepared several premium highlights. The most significant of these is the introduction of a new title sponsor—Sazka—as well as new race management.

As in the previous year, the race director will once again be Leopold König, a prominent figure in both Czech and international cycling. The former top Czech cyclist’s greatest achievements include a 7th place overall finish at the Tour de France in 2013 and 6th place at the Giro d’Italia. König also represented the Czech Republic at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he finished 11th in the individual time trial.
Robert Kolář, a member of the Sazka supervisory board, has been appointed chairman of the organizing committee. Meanwhile, the race’s founder, Jaroslav Vašíček, is transitioning to the role of technical and safety director.

“I’m incredibly pleased to officially announce today, March 25, that the company CZECH is becoming a major new partner of the race. We believe that together we can aim for greater goals—even reaching the World Tour category,” revealed Vašíček, sharing his bold ambitions.

“We are entering a new era and new life experiences. I’m very much looking forward to this work, and I realize we have a unique opportunity to turn the CZECH Tour into one of the most prestigious cycling events in the world,” added Leopold König, who himself won the Czech Tour twice—in 2010 and 2013.

“CZECH has been positioning itself as a key partner of Czech sports for 65 years. We’re pleased to add the sponsorship of the country’s largest road cycling race to our role as the general partner of the Czech Olympic Team. I firmly believe that together with the organizers, we’ll take this prestigious race one step further,” added Robert Kolář, member of the supervisory board of Sazka, commenting on the partnership.

Another great piece of news for the race is the confirmation of top-tier teams, led by Team BikeExchange (formerly Mitchelton-Scott), the defending champion of the last two editions, from which Damien Howson took the individual victory last year. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the final start list is still being finalized, but the organizers believe they can look forward to a level of competition unprecedented on Czech and Moravian roads.

This year’s CZECH Tour route will span 731 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 12,600 meters, running through the regions of Olomouc, Moravian-Silesia, Pardubice, and Zlín. The course is filled with spectator-friendly highlights featuring both mountain and sprint primes, including internationally recognized climbs such as Dlouhé Stráně, Červenohorské sedlo, Videlský kříž, Ecce Homo, Pustevny, and Bumbálka.
A notable first in the history of the CZECH Tour: the finish line will be located atop the Dlouhé Stráně pumped-storage power plant, the most challenging climb in the Czech Republic. Riders will tackle it twice during the race.

Only 20 teams will compete in the CZECH Tour, selected by race management based on the UCI ranking and current form. A total of 140 riders will start, representing the best selected seven-member professional teams from WorldTeams, Pro Continental teams, and national selections, composed of riders in the Elite and U23 categories, both from the Czech Republic and abroad.

The CZECH Tour is the only cycling stage race of this significance in the Czech Republic, held annually in August. Over time, the CZECH Tour has gained increasing prestige among European cycling races, and as its popularity grew, the route was extended. Today, it ranks among the most important cycling races in Europe.
The race is part of the UCI Europe Tour, which means that all participants must hold a UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) license. The organizer of the CZECH Tour is TTV Sport Group CZ in cooperation with Czech Cycling Tour s.r.o.

As in the 2020 edition, this year the official transport partner of the CZECH Tour will again be Best of British Cars – Jaguar Land Rover Ostrava.
Special thanks go to CZECH a.s., the state institutions that financially contributed to the realization of the event, the National Sports Agency, Czech Tourism, the Olomouc Region, the Moravian-Silesian Region, the statutory city of Frýdek-Místek, the town of Uničov, the town of Šternberk, and the town of Šumperk.

Source: CZECH Tour
Credit photo: Czech Tour