Our explorer Dennis Knuist (also known as Cycling Dennis) was visiting the Czech Republic to discover the region. At the invitation of Czech Tourism Benelux He went cycling in Prague. The goal of the trip? To explore the region and now see for themselves why this beautiful country has been recommended to us so often in recent times. It is already known that the neighbor of Poland, Germany, Austria en Slovakia It is an underrated cycling destination.
Text: Dennis Knuist, Photos: L’etape du Tour Czech
Early on
The alarm goes off early on Friday; at 07:05 I fly to Prague. A trip I’ve been looking forward to for a while now. This weekend I get to spend the day with my family in Prague.‘The stage of the tour’Driving in the Czech Republic. The journey from home to Schiphol goes quite smoothly; even the dreaded long lines are gone. To kill time on this early morning, I listen to another song. podcast. It's so enjoyable to listen to, that I'll quickly download two more episodes before the flight. At exactly 07:05, the plane is at the gate in Prague. I'm pleased to find that I have to listen to a podcast much more often to make my time worthwhile.
Litepacking is the code word
Since I light travel I can also get through security in Prague this way and literally run into my driver, who is already waiting for me in the arrival hall. Within 30 minutes of arriving in the Czech Republic, I arrived at my hotel. The hotel is located next to the Strahov Monastery and near Prague Castle. It is higher than the city center, so I have a nice view of the city from above. The start and finish location of the event are also nearby; in short, an ideal base for this weekend.
Big bag
After a very nice cup of coffee, the lady from the hotel greets me. In the lobby, a man with a very beautiful race bike is waiting for me. So this weekend I can go for a spin on a very nice Specialized Aethos. The energy is high and I decide to get on the bike right away. The man from the rental company, Ski a Bike Radotin, invites me to come by later today to adjust the bike. He has a stand at The stage and I can use his tools and expertise. Now I was also prepared and had some spare keys with me, so first I’ll go to my hotel room and give it a try myself. After half an hour I’m satisfied and decide to make my first ride.
Up the hill
From the hotel, we head straight up the mountain (7%) towards a botanical garden, the Kinsky Park and the Petrin Gardens. Along the park, there is a bike path and at every turn I am treated to fantastic views over Prague. You will also find a lookout tower in this park and a train goes all the way up from the lower center. On the way, I am surprised by short, very steep climbs (up to 15%) and after leaving the park and having cycled only 8 kilometers, I have already made 330 vertical meters. That sounds like a lot!
Direction to the center
From the park, I descend towards the city center and as soon as I turn onto the road, there is a complete layer of gravel in front of me. I discover that most of the streets are covered with it and I try to find a route to get out of the city using Komoot. I manage to do this eventually and I know the way to the Strahov Stadium, where Sparta Prague used to play their home matches. This is the largest stadium complex in the world. An ideal location for the start of an event. That is why the L’etape village has been built here. I also meet Premek Novak there.
Grand Project
Premek is the project manager of The stage of the Tour Czech Republic (full name) and is also responsible for media relations. Thanks to this man, I ride on that big Specialized. This year, a total of 3000 cyclists take part, divided into two distances. For both distances, there is a completely closed course. That is very cool. Along the way, there are hundreds of volunteers who point out the correct route and/or dangerous points to the riders, and there is also police support everywhere. There are five food zones set up throughout the entire course, and a number of vehicles from a Czech professional team drive around to provide mechanical support. A truly outstanding organization, in my opinion.
A little bit of history
The motivation to organize all this in the Czech Republic has its origins with the car manufacturer Skoda (main sponsor of both the ‘real’ Tour and all the L’etape events) and We Love Cycling (online magazine). Skoda is from the Czech Republic, and therefore no L’etape event should be missing in this city. After a good conversation about our passion for cycling and a short bike check with my friends from Ski a Bike, I head back to the hotel, full of excitement to go cycling tomorrow. I end this day with 33 kilometers of cycling and 685 meters of elevation gain, and I haven’t even been outside Prague.
Face to face with the devil
The next morning, after a good breakfast and a cup of coffee, I meet Didi the Devil. Didi is the man who has been appearing on TV every Tour for years, dressed as a devil and riding up the mountain with the riders. His name is Dieter Senft, he was born in Germany and is now 70 years old. Didi travels all over Europe and Asia and rents himself out for events. That’s how it is with L’etape as well. His presence adds that extra tour feel to this event. He’s just a nice guy, crazy about cycling and still super fit at 70 years old.
Start
At 9:30 I arrive at my assigned starting area for the L’etape. I have the starting number 1048 and it turns out that it is the last starting area. The next half hour the area slowly fills up and there is even a bit of tension. Finally, at 10:00, a countdown clock goes off through the speakers, followed by a loud bang and it slowly starts to move for me. The first 7.5 kilometers are neutralized. This section goes right through Prague and was chosen to prevent accidents on the cobblestones or tram tracks. The sound of 1500 hubs around you is very impressive. From the start, many spectators are already cheering enthusiastically and encouraging us. This will continue throughout the day.
The course
We leave Prague heading towards the airport. As soon as we leave the big city, we are truly unleashed. We drive through the corn fields, passing numerous small villages and being enthusiastically cheered on by the spectators present. The roads are good along the way and here and there it even seems as if they have been swept. The first hour flies by at an average of 35 km/h. This goes unnoticed in a large peloton, but consumes a lot of energy. With all those altitude meters still to come, I start to pinch myself. At 23 kilometers, the first serious climb appears and with playful ease I manage to pass many participants. I wonder if I'm that good or this bike. It's a huge kick when you fly up a climb and everything feels within the green range and doesn't immediately turn to bright red. The climb itself isn't even two kilometers long with an average of 5%, but by catching up with the other participants it became a kind of obstacle run.
Bohemian Rhapsody
The majority of the course goes right through Central Bohemia, a very diverse region with the highest point at 865 meters. The majority consists of agriculture and forests, and with the warmth of this day (27 degrees Celsius), the coolness of the forests is very pleasant. Climbing through the forests also gives me a sense of something mythical. In any case, the views are beautiful and provide a pleasant distraction on this undulating 140-kilometer course and 2,000 meters of elevation gain.
Good care
At the first feeding zone I put my water bottle down and get a new one filled with cold water. That is some good service! With some pieces of watermelon and banana, I jump back on the bike and continue my way. While eating, I briefly take the tension out of my legs. Here again, enthusiastic clapping from the audience, lines thick. I feel like I’m in a real race for a moment. The presence of the audience even further down the road makes everyone give it their all in the short sprint. The organization has set this up, as can be seen during a stage of the tour. I also go full force in the sprint and, already high-fiving with the audience, I cross the finish line of this intermediate sprint.
Continue
After 2.5 hours in the saddle, with the average still well above 32 km/h, my legs are starting to protest as well; we have already covered over 1200 meters of elevation gain and the pace is still high. The nice thing about this is that there are plenty of feeding zones to replenish all that lost minerals and salts. This keeps me from experiencing cramps and other discomforts. But above all, the enthusiasm of the audience, the experience everyone has had, and the fact that we all got to hang out in each other’s shoes for a while, make the time and kilometers fly by.
Bowl
At kilometer 70 we reach a KOM segment, a 3-kilometer climb with an average elevation gain of 8.7%. It was jokingly called ‘the Huy Wall’ here. This was painful over the full three kilometers, partly due to the gravel, but certainly also due to the 10-11% sections. But secretly, just enjoying it and pedaling above the crowd gave a huge kick.
Back in Prague
After 4 hours of racing, we arrive back in Prague and with a small group we set a fairly fast pace. This, by the way, without really exchanging a word with each other, but we fly headfirst towards the finish line. Because the last hour is mostly uphill, the average pace drops significantly, but with this pace it starts to pick up again. Six kilometers remain of a climb and two kilometers of another; here our pact again falls apart.
I also remember making it up a considerable hill on the final climb and crossing the finish line after 4 hours and 28 minutes, where Didi jumps up and down and cheers. A little further on, a medal is hung around my neck and my participation in this race is over. Tired but satisfied, I find my way through the crowd in search of food. In the end, the pasta party and the big bowl of spaghetti and a can of cola taste even better than I expected. With tired legs but a satisfied feeling, I return to the hotel.. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!
Where did I stay
During my trip to Prague, I stayed in a beautiful hotel. Hotel Lindner It is located in the historical center of Prague. That is ideal for exploring the city, but you can also get out of the city quite quickly to let the bike do the work. The hotel also has a fitness and sauna area, so you can relax well after the ride. With a large terrace, its own restaurant, and another great bar, it is a must-visit for a trip to Prague.
For more information about holidays and cycling in the Czech Republic, click here here!
Tips for traveling light
Dennis went on this trip ‘lightly’. That basically means traveling as little as possible so that he doesn’t have to carry any luggage. He was helped a little by the fact that his bike was arranged for him in Prague. This was included in his backpack:
- Cycling clothing for 2 days
- Helmet
- Cycling shoes
- Toilet bag
- Camera
- Laptop
- Casual clothing for two days
If you’re thinking of traveling lighter in the end, for example if you want to go mountain biking, we still have a few tips.
- If you are going to fly, use organizers, or cubes.
- For example, use shoes to put things in
- Choose materials made from merino wool; it’s also great for undergarments.
- For deodorant and shampoo, it can help to work with ‘bars’. Yes, even for deodorant
- Ask yourself the question: do I really need it? First answer is no? Leave it at home
- One of the most handy items is the ‘Buff’. Even when it’s hot, you can put it on your head to block the sun, and when it’s cold it can be useful to keep the cold out or as a kind of balaclava on your head.
Do you want more tips for traveling light and with only carry-on luggage? Then take a look on the website of Litepacking District!
Questions & tips
Do you have any questions about this route, or have you been there yourself? Share them here. We read everything and usually respond within a few days.