WorldTour Stars on One Stage: Czech Tour Kicks Off with a Show at Hradčany Square

The 17th edition of the Czech Tour cycling stage race is gearing up for a spectacular start. On the eve of the first stage, Wednesday, August 13, cycling fans will have the unique opportunity to meet all the stars of this year's peloton, including riders from teams like Visma | Lease a Bike and Soudal Quick-Step, during a ceremonial opening at Hradčany Square, set against the majestic backdrop of Prague Castle. On Thursday, the race will officially kick off with its inaugural stage from Prague to Karlovy Vary, while the highly anticipated finale will unfold on Sunday with the renowned climb to Pustevny in the Beskydy mountains.

Following last year's successful debut, cycling enthusiasts can once again look forward to live television broadcasts. The final 90 minutes of each stage will be broadcast live on ČT Sport and, new this year, on Eurosport. "We are delighted that negotiations with Eurosport were successful; it will further elevate the Czech Tour's global reach," says Robert Kolář, President of the Czech Tour.

"We introduced the ceremonial opening last year, following the model of the biggest global races, and the fantastic atmosphere at Horní náměstí in Olomouc confirmed that it was a step in the right direction. With this year's shift of the first stage start to the capital, we aimed for another iconic location that would underscore the significance of the Czech Tour as the largest cycling event in the Czech Republic. And I believe Hradčany Square, in the very heart of Prague's historic core, fulfills this role perfectly," Robert Kolář adds.

As of today, the Czech Tour organizers have registered 17 teams, led by two WorldTeam squads, the highest license category. "We are pleased to once again welcome Team Visma Lease a Bike, a regular at the Czech Tour. And Soudal Quick-Step, where we can find stars like Remco Evenepoel, will return. Among the teams with lower licenses, the best Czech teams, Elkov-Kasper and ATT Investments, will also be present. In total, there should be around 120 riders at the start, but we are keeping our options open for a potential additional WorldTour team," announces Race Director and former professional peloton member Leopold König.

The latest addition to the start list is the Astana Development Team, whose roster includes participants from this year's Nations' Cup, including the Peace Race U23. "I am very pleased that we will welcome another team full of raw youth. I look forward to seeing the Astana riders, along with the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe Development Team, form a 'brazen' opposition in the best sense of the word against the well-experienced riders," notes Leopold König.

During this year's Czech Tour, the peloton will cover 660 km over four days, with a cumulative elevation gain of over 9,000 meters. The first classic-style stage will take riders from the start at Vítězné náměstí in Prague-Dejvice to Karlovy Vary. The second part will kick off in Pardubice, and the finish at the summit of the famous climb near the upper reservoir of the Dlouhé stráně pumped-storage power plant will be the first test for climbers. The third stage between Prostějov and Ostrava, on the other hand, should bring a sprint battle, and the final act will be the queen stage from Kroměříž to Pustevny.

"We strive to balance the difficulty of the routes each year to attract both world-class climbers and sprinters. And I think we've succeeded again. Two uphill finishes, one purely sprint stage, and one challenging classic-style stage. I think it's a perfectly balanced program for a four-day race," praises Leopold König.

The Czech Tour follows up the traditional Peace Race U23, which took place at the turn of May and June in the Moravian-Silesian and Olomouc regions.