Czech Cycling Tour
# Czech Cycling Tour

The Czech Cycling Tour is the largest stage race for professional cyclists in the Czech Republic. It was first held in 2009. The most successful cyclist in the race's short history is Leopold König with two triumphs. He is also now the race director.

From 2011, the race was run as part of the second division with the designation UCI Europe Tour 2.2; since 2015, the Czech Tour has been ranked a category higher as one of the races of the UCI Europe Tour 2.1 series.

The Czech Tour takes place in the Olomouc, Moravian-Silesian and Pardubice regions. Stage routes lead through the attractive scenery of the Jeseníky and Beskydy Mountains. The peloton riders often fight for position during the tough climbs on Dlouhé Stráně, Červenohorské sedlo and Pustevny. Traditionally, the Czech Tour concludes in Šternberk.

In 2021, Sazka became the main partner of the race, and this also marked a change in the profile of the race from moderate to predominantly mountainous. During the four stages of the Czech Tour 2023, cyclists will ride 663.1 kilometres and climb 11,203 meters. Due to its position in the calendar, the Czech Tour is perceived as a great test for cyclists who are preparing for the Vuelta – the final Grand Tour of the season.

For Czech fans, it is always an exceptional opportunity to see the cream of world cycling. In the past, World Tour teams such as Intermarché-Wanty Gobert, Mitchelton Scott and Deceuninck Quick Step have competed. For the 2023 edition, the teams Bora hansgrohe, whose roster includes Sam Bennet, who triumphed in the points competition at the Tour de France, and Jumbo Visma, which includes Jonas Vingegaard, the winner of the Tour de France 2022, have confirmed their participation.

In the past, Primož Roglič, three-time winner of the Vuelta, Julian Alaphilippe, two-time world champion, and Simon Yates, also a winner of the Vuelta, have ridden the Czech roads.

"We are demonstrating to the world that we can host great cycling events in the Czech Republic. We are building something like the family silverware. Just look at the Tour de Suisse, Tour de Pologne and other races. Our motivation is to keep moving the Czech Tour forward to build a renowned race," says Leopold König, former elite cyclist and now race director, who invited Robert Hunter to join the organizing team for the 2023 season as part of efforts to increase the safety of the Czech Tour and the U23 Peace Race. A participant in seventeen Grand Tours, he can boast stage wins on the Tour de France and the Spanish Vuelta, and is responsible for safety during the Tour de Suisse.

## Winners

| Year | Country | Rider | Team |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2010 | Czech Republic | Leopold König | PSK Whirlpool–Author |
| 2011 | Czech Republic | Stanislav Kozubek | PSK Whirlpool–Author |
| 2012 | Czech Republic | František Padour | Whirlpool–Author |
| 2013 | Czech Republic | Leopold König | NetApp–Endura |
| 2014 | Denmark | Martin Mortensen | Cult Energy–Vital Water |
| 2015 | Czech Republic | Petr Vakoč | Etixx–Quick-Step |
| 2016 | Italy | Diego Ulissi | Lampre–Merida |
| 2017 | Czech Republic | Josef Černý | Elkov–Author |
| 2018 | Austria | Riccardo Zoidl | Team Felbermayr–Simplon Wels |
| 2019 | South Africa | Daryl Impey | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 2020 | Australia | Damien Howson | Mitchelton–Scott |
| 2021 | Italy | Filippo Zana | Bardiani–CSF–Faizanè |
| 2022 | Italy | Lorenzo Rota | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux |
