The Czech Tour 2025 witnessed a major surprise on Saturday’s third stage. In a thrilling bunch sprint in Ostrava, 24-year-old Australian Liam Walsh of Ccache x Bodywrap outpaced all the sprint stars to claim the biggest victory of his career. Junior Lecerf of Soudal Quick-Step retained the overall lead heading into Sunday’s decisive stage to Pustevny.
"I’m extremely proud of the whole team. This is only our second ever appearance at the Czech Tour. We’re a young squad, and for us this is a very prestigious race with top competition. I’m unbelievably happy," said Walsh at the finish.
The 148 km stage from Prostějov to Ostrava (1,208 m of climbing) began with a fierce fight to form the day’s breakaway, but no Czech rider managed to get into the move. The five-man escape featured Nicolo Garibbo of Team Ukyo, who was targeting points in the mountains classification. He narrowly won the KOM at Odry, extending his lead in the polka-dot jersey competition.
Despite their efforts, the breakaway’s advantage steadily decreased. With 11 km to go, Loic Bettendorff of Hrinkow Advarics launched a solo attack, building a 25-second gap. But Soudal Quick-Step, controlling the race for yellow and green jerseys, raised the tempo, and the peloton regrouped with 5 km remaining — setting up the sprinters’ showdown.
Crowds packed Ostrava’s Masaryk Square to watch Soudal Quick-Step execute a textbook lead-out for Luke Lamperti, last year’s winner of the Ostrava sprint. The American, already a stage winner this year, launched his sprint from the front. But on the left side, Liam Walsh powered out of his slipstream.
While Lamperti, wearing the green jersey of the points leader, was forced out of the saddle and struggled to transfer power effectively on the cobbled finish, the Australian remained seated and surged ahead. Shockingly for the fans and favourites alike, Walsh stormed past to take the victory.
"The guys protected me perfectly. They kept me well supplied with water in the heat, so I felt fresh coming into the sprint," said the Brisbane native as he celebrated in front of the packed square after the podium ceremony. "This is my second win in Europe, but by far the biggest of my career. Last year I won the one-day race Paris–Troyes, but this is different — a bigger race, tougher competition."
The 2025 Czech Tour concludes on Sunday with the queen stage. The peloton will race from Kroměříž to the famous climb of Pustevny in the Beskydy mountains, where the riders will tackle the ascent twice in a dramatic finale of the race.
Foto: Jan Brychta, Markéta Navrátilová
