The Tour de France is a stage race that finishes in Paris for professional cyclists that was first organised in France in 1903. The race takes place in July every year, with its only interruption being during World War I and World War II. Although mostly only French cyclists competed in the early years, there are now participants from all over the world. You might be surprised what Czech roots you can find in the race. We would like to introduce them to you.
Czech riders
This year’s race, which starts on 26 June and ends in Paris on 18 July, will see several Czech riders. It is not possible to say how many of them will be at the start line due to the specifics of the race. However, we already know that thirty-year-old Jan Hirt, born in Třebíč in Vysočina, and thirty-five-year-old Roman Kreuziger, who comes from Moravská Třebová in Moravia, will be there. And what about the past? Czech cyclists started racing the Tour de France in the 1980s. Ján Svorada competed at the Tour de France eight times. He was the first Czech rider to win a stage in 1994. In 2001, he even won the final Avenue des Champs-Élysées stage in Paris. Current Czech rider, Roman Kreuziger, has thus far competed nine times to become the leading Czech cyclists in the number of starts.
Cup for the Tour de France winner
If you had trained a lot and signed up for the Tour de France, and been lucky enough to stand on the winner’s podium of the Champs d´Elysée stage, you would have held the crystal trophy designed by Peter Olah, made in the Lasvit glass factory in Nový Bor in North Bohemia. Peter Olah is an interior designer at Škoda Auto in Mladá Boleslav, which is the largest car manufacturer in the Czech Republic, and also a long-time partner of the most famous cycling race. The cups for the Tour winner, under 25 winner, best sprinter and best climber are made from a single 60 cm tall piece of glass, weighing 4 kilograms. Naturally, they are hand-cut.L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France
Czechia can look forward to an extraordinary cycling adventure. On Saturday, 28 August 2021, Prague together with the region of Central Bohemia will host L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France. It is part of the amateur cycling race series where participants can enjoy the unique atmosphere of Tour de France. The prestigious event under the heading of one of the most famous sports races in history will enable enthusiastic athletes to experience the world of professional cycling. The race will take place on 28 August 2021. There will be two race routes for cyclists of all performance categories – the more demanding one will offer 130 kilometres, the shorter will take cyclists on a 90-kilometre loop. The race will start in Prague, and most of the route will pass through extremely beautiful locations in Central Bohemia – Křivoklátsko, Berounsko and the Bohemian Karst.
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