The Czech Republic’s biggest stage race will welcome an elite field of riders. The 125-strong start list features 30 nationalities, bringing together some of the biggest names in the international peloton and the very best of Czech cycling.
Fans can look forward to riders such as Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), 2021 Vuelta a España podium finisher Jack Haig and Bob Jungels, a stage winner at both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia (both Netcompany INEOS). The home crowd will have particular reason to cheer for Jan Hirt (NSN Cycling Team), a Giro d’Italia stage winner, as well as a strong Czech contingent led by Jakub Otruba, Michal Schuran, Tomáš Přidal, Josef Černý and Michael Kukrle.
WorldTour & ProTeams
Soudal Quick-Step (BEL)
The Belgian UCI WorldTour powerhouse comes to the Czech Tour as the defending overall champion and fresh from three stage victories at this year’s Tour de France. The Wolfpack remain one of the biggest forces in world cycling.
Key riders: Spanish climbing star Mikel Landa arrives in the Czech Republic as one of the big favourites for the GC. He will have strong support from Mauri Vansevenant and promising Slovak talent Martin Svrček.
The team car will be headed by Belgian cycling legend Wilfried Peeters.
Netcompany INEOS (GBR)
The British powerhouse brings a star-studded line-up with plenty of firepower for the general classification.
Key riders: The squad features Jack Haig, third overall at the 2021 Vuelta a España, and versatile Bob Jungels, a stage winner at both the Tour and Giro as well as a former Liège–Bastogne–Liège champion. Experienced Ben Swift and Ben Turner add further depth.
Norwegian former pro Kurt Asle Arvesen will call the shots from the team car.
NSN Cycling Team (SUI)
A strong Swiss outfit that will be one of the biggest draws for the home crowd.
Key riders: Czech hopes will rest largely on experienced climber Jan Hirt, winner of a tough mountain stage at the Giro d’Italia. He is joined by Tour de l’Avenir winner Joseph Blackmore and Italian Marco Frigo. George Bennett has been named as a reserve.
TotalEnergies (FRA)
A long-established French team renowned for aggressive racing and a willingness to light up the race from the breakaway.
Key riders: The squad is led by Jordan Jegat, 10th overall at the Tour de France in each of the past two years, with experienced Geoffrey Bouchard among his key support riders.
Former cyclocross world champion Dominique Arnould brings his wealth of experience to the team car.
Equipo Kern Pharma (ESP)
An ambitious Spanish ProTeam known for relentless, attacking racing, particularly when the road starts going uphill.
Key riders: Ibai Azanza and Unai Iribar.
Caja Rural–Seguros RGA (ESP)
A renowned breeding ground for Spanish climbing talent and a regular at the Vuelta a España, Caja Rural thrive on aggressive, attacking racing.
Key riders: Joan Bou and Sergi Darder will be among the riders to watch, backed by Czech rider Jakub Otruba, fresh from racing the Tour de France.
Team Polti VisitMalta (ITA)
A traditional Italian squad with a taste for long, hard breakaways and an entertaining style of racing.
Key riders: Experienced brothers Davide and Mattia Bais are joined by Thomas Pesenti.
Team Flanders–Baloise (BEL)
A product of the Belgian cycling school, focused on developing the classics specialists of tomorrow.
Key riders: Track specialist Jules Hesters and young prospect Leander Van Hautegem.
The team is directed by Dirk Demol, a former Paris–Roubaix winner.
Team Novo Nordisk (USA)
A unique global project whose entire roster is made up of riders living with type 1 diabetes. The team uses professional cycling to raise awareness around the world.
Key riders: Experienced climber David Lozano and British rider Sam Brand.
The squad is guided by two-time Italian national champion Massimo Podenzana, himself a stage winner at both the Tour and Giro.
Bardiani CSF 7 Saber (ITA)
A representative of Italy’s rich cycling tradition, a regular at the Giro d’Italia and a team built around fighting spirit and attacking racing.
Key riders: Luca Covili could be a contender for the GC, while the ever-aggressive Manuele Tarozzi offers another attacking card.
MBH Bank CSB Telecom (ITA)
Another squad showcasing the next generation of Italian talent.
Key riders: Alessandro Fancellu and Lorenzo Nespoli are both riders to watch.
Solution Tech Nippo Rali (ITA)
An Italian team built around hugely experienced riders with plenty of Grand Tour kilometres in their legs.
Key riders: The headline names are 32-year-old Valerio Conti, a former Vuelta a España stage winner, and seasoned campaigner Matteo Fabbro.
Modern Adventure Pro Cycling (USA)
The US outfit brings an aggressive, full-gas American racing style to the peloton.
Key riders: Highly experienced former US national champion Joey Rosskopf is the standout name in the line-up.
Continental Teams
Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe Rookies (GER)
The German development squad brings a very young, hungry line-up packed with some of the sport’s rising stars.
Key riders: Highly rated prospects Paul Fietzke and Theodor Clemmensen will both be in action.
ATT Investments (CZE)
The standout Czech Continental team of recent years and one that is ready to take the fight to the WorldTour riders. ATT Investments currently sits top of the UCI Continental team rankings.
Key riders: Fast finisher Dominik Neuman, tough and versatile Martin Voltr, and talented Alberto Monti, who impressed with fifth place at May’s Course de la Paix.
The team is directed by experienced Juraj Sagan, former professional rider and brother of cycling legend Peter Sagan.
Kasper Crypto4me (CZE)
The home squad comes to the Czech Tour with a strong line-up.
Key riders: The roster features some of the Czech Republic’s leading riders, including accomplished time triallist Josef Černý and experienced breakaway specialist Michael Kukrle. Successful cyclocross rider Michael Boroš adds further strength.
TUFO–Pardus Prostějov (CZE)
The traditional Moravian team brings local pride and plenty of motivation to make its mark in front of the home crowd.
Key riders: Young talents Jan Kašpar, Ondřej Pokorný and Matyáš Koblížek will be eager to show themselves on home roads.
Team United Shipping (HUN)
A Hungarian Continental team with a strong Czech presence on its roster.
Key riders: The team will look to last year’s Czech Tour mountains classification winner Michal Schuran, as well as 2024 Czech national road champion and the best-placed Czech rider at last year’s Czech Tour, Tomáš Přidal.
