L’Etape Czech republic 2024, Mountain stage
How I saw L'Etape :)
In the Insider Cycling crew, we have been working towards 2 highlights all season: the L'Etape Czech Republic. The boys rode the Prague one, and I decided to ride the mountain one with them in Prachatice. After I had COVID-19 4 weeks ago, it was clear that it would be a race with myself rather than a race with myself. I had no idea what to expect, I wanted to get around reasonably. In the morning, I picked up Mario, who was on the spot taking photos and filming for Insider cycling, and we set off towards Prachatice. Highlight number one: Mário is a great car partner. We talked about ballet, vinyl record-making, and Photoshop. The trip passed like water, and I was already picking up my bib. About 5' later, a tremendous thunderstorm started, so I parked in a cafe and waited to see what would happen. Eventually, I got changed in the lighter rain and made it to the start.
Quite a few people mistook the neutral 6km for a race from minute one; we arrived at the official start, shot, and went off! I stayed at the front for a while but then gradually worked my way somewhere past the halfway point of the start field and went about my business. There were no groups forming this far back, though, so I had no way to rest in the pack, so I actually rode 100km on my own. Good training. After 4 hours, I was at the finish line, got my medal, took group photos with the guys who all rode a great race, bike to the car, and returned to Prague.
The whole organization was absolutely top-notch; Premek and his team at L'Etape again did their best to make every rider feel like they were on the Tour de France.
A few brief thoughts:
1. After the start at the front of the pack, the mood was nervous, and people were swearing unnecessarily. Nothing like that was happening at the back. Some riders even apologized to me there for inadvertently running into my track. Cycling unites, not divides. Calm down!!!
2. Great route. Honest cycling, quality asphalt. The closed roads are the best; the downhill has a different dimension afterward.
3. ATMOSPHERE!!! This was awesome; every village had fans around the road, and in some places, I felt like they were all locals. And the climb to Klet? Awesome. I heard the noise 2km away, then I drove up it, and it was hell! The next hell was right after that in the form of a 16% climb :)
4. ũnbeaten jerseys. As I saw most of the pack, I also saw a lot of jerseys. Yes, I'm biased, but the ũnbeaten jerseys are gorgeous. Great job, GOBIK designers. Thanks for representing Vojtech Klaus and Adam Tůma.
5. Nutrition: about 1,5 hours before the race, I had a ham and cheese sandwich and drank about 1l of Ultra hydration. I carried only 2 bidons to the race, one with Hydration Fuel and the other with Hyper Fuel. I didn't need anything for the first third; then, I alternated between Hyper Fuel and Hydration Fuel. The cluster-dextrin in Hyper Fuel is incredible; I never felt like running out of energy, and I had no cramping. My back hurt the most after the race.
6. I saw many girls on the road; it's great how many girls enjoy road bikes. Girls power!!!
It was a great race and an experience. The next race is Okolo Pece; Vojta promises big races, too, so I'm looking forward to it.
#BetterThanYesterday #UnbeatenTomorrow
In the Insider Cycling crew, we have been working towards 2 highlights all season: the L'Etape Czech Republic. The boys rode the Prague one, and I decided to ride the mountain one with them in Prachatice. After I had COVID-19 4 weeks ago, it was clear that it would be a race with myself rather than a race with myself. I had no idea what to expect, I wanted to get around reasonably. In the morning, I picked up Mario, who was on the spot taking photos and filming for Insider cycling, and we set off towards Prachatice. Highlight number one: Mário is a great car partner. We talked about ballet, vinyl record-making, and Photoshop. The trip passed like water, and I was already picking up my bib. About 5' later, a tremendous thunderstorm started, so I parked in a cafe and waited to see what would happen. Eventually, I got changed in the lighter rain and made it to the start.
Quite a few people mistook the neutral 6km for a race from minute one; we arrived at the official start, shot, and went off! I stayed at the front for a while but then gradually worked my way somewhere past the halfway point of the start field and went about my business. There were no groups forming this far back, though, so I had no way to rest in the pack, so I actually rode 100km on my own. Good training. After 4 hours, I was at the finish line, got my medal, took group photos with the guys who all rode a great race, bike to the car, and returned to Prague.
The whole organization was absolutely top-notch; Premek and his team at L'Etape again did their best to make every rider feel like they were on the Tour de France.
A few brief thoughts:
1. After the start at the front of the pack, the mood was nervous, and people were swearing unnecessarily. Nothing like that was happening at the back. Some riders even apologized to me there for inadvertently running into my track. Cycling unites, not divides. Calm down!!!
2. Great route. Honest cycling, quality asphalt. The closed roads are the best; the downhill has a different dimension afterward.
3. ATMOSPHERE!!! This was awesome; every village had fans around the road, and in some places, I felt like they were all locals. And the climb to Klet? Awesome. I heard the noise 2km away, then I drove up it, and it was hell! The next hell was right after that in the form of a 16% climb :)
4. ũnbeaten jerseys. As I saw most of the pack, I also saw a lot of jerseys. Yes, I'm biased, but the ũnbeaten jerseys are gorgeous. Great job, GOBIK designers. Thanks for representing Vojtech Klaus and Adam Tůma.
5. Nutrition: about 1,5 hours before the race, I had a ham and cheese sandwich and drank about 1l of Ultra hydration. I carried only 2 bidons to the race, one with Hydration Fuel and the other with Hyper Fuel. I didn't need anything for the first third; then, I alternated between Hyper Fuel and Hydration Fuel. The cluster-dextrin in Hyper Fuel is incredible; I never felt like running out of energy, and I had no cramping. My back hurt the most after the race.
6. I saw many girls on the road; it's great how many girls enjoy road bikes. Girls power!!!
It was a great race and an experience. The next race is Okolo Pece; Vojta promises big races, too, so I'm looking forward to it.
#BetterThanYesterday #UnbeatenTomorrow