L'Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France 2025 will be an exciting year with major premieres!

For the fifth time, the Czech Republic will host this iconic event, and in 2025, there will be two races under the L'Etape banner. The hilly stage starting in Prague will take place on June 21, followed by the Mountain Stage in Prachatice on August 2. This year will also mark the first time that an overall winner of the Czech series will be crowned.

"We're thrilled that last year's debut with two events under the Tour de France banner was a success, and L'Etape Czech Republic continues to grow. The event has become a nationwide phenomenon, with entire communities and families getting involved, whether by participating in the race or cheering on cyclists along the route," says Tomáš Pravenec, director of the organizing company Petr Čech Sport.

One of the key themes for 2025 will be uniting generations. Organizers are working to bring two legends of the global peloton, with victories in the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, and World Championships, to serve as the main ambassadors for the hilly stage.

“Cycling transcends the boundaries of sport and is for everyone. It can be enjoyed by the entire family, from children to seniors,” emphasizes Přemysl Novák, head of the L'Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France project.

Zdeněk Štybar, a former Czech professional and Tour de France stage winner, praises the idea of uniting generations in cycling. "It's a great concept," he says. "My dad is already retired, but it was during L'Etape that we got on our bikes together. In 2023, we completed a shorter route side by side. I paced my dad, so on the flat sections, we were cruising at 35 or 40 kilometers an hour. It was a real experience for me to be his domestique, and for my dad too, because he completed the race much faster than he ever thought he could," smiles the 38-year-old cyclist, who has recently been honored with a state award.

"For my dad, the motivation is finishing L'Etape. He prepares conscientiously within his limits to enjoy the race's atmosphere on closed roads. That's how it should be," explains Štybar, who has not missed a single event of the largest Czech race for amateur cyclists since the summer of 2022.

The hilly stage, organized in cooperation with Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, has become an integral part of the calendar for most amateur cyclists and has grown into the largest domestic race. The fifth edition will start on June 21 from the capital, with three routes of varying lengths and difficulties leading west of Prague.

The three routes of the Křivoklát stage (139 km/1900 m elevation, 97 km/1000 m, and 66 km/700 m) will feature a few minor changes but will again pass through some of the best areas from previous editions. "For a while, we are saying goodbye to Strahov and the Křivoklát area. The route is designed as a tribute to all the places where L'Etape has been embraced with open arms, becoming a unique event for the local communities who created unforgettable experiences for all cyclists," explains Přemysl Novák.

Riders can choose between the short, medium, and long routes. The start and finish will be in Prague at Strahov.

"In the coming years, there will be major construction works here, so we will be starting from a different location. That’s why we decided to forgo the idea of having the race start from a different city and instead organize the fifth edition as a tribute to Strahov, which, in our eyes, is an iconic place for Czech cycling," adds Přemysl Novák, recalling the 1981 World Road Cycling Championships held at Větrná hůrka.

"The second reason for organizing the fifth edition of the Kopcovitá stage as a loop was the logistical complexity of transporting thousands of cyclists. In Czech conditions, given the number of participants, our attempt seemed difficult to implement, and we didn’t want to resort to a half-hearted solution that would tarnish the experience associated with L'Etape Czech Republic," explains Přemysl Novák, providing a solid argument for why the organizers abandoned the idea of starting at the church of St. Bartholomew in Rakovník.

Registration is available for the short route (66 km, 700 meters of elevation), the medium route (97 km, 1000 meters of elevation), and the long route (139 km, over 1900 meters of elevation). "The two shorter routes are much easier and more cyclist-friendly compared to previous years, catering to cyclists of all ages and performance levels. Meanwhile, the long route is just as demanding as a classic-style stage race," notes the head of the L'Etape project.

The highlight of the challenge for all participants on the long route will be the mountainous "trident", where the peloton will gradually tackle the climb from Městečko to Velká Buková, followed by the hill in Roztoky near Křivoklát, including the cobbled sector "Štybar's Revenge", and after descending to Zbečno, cyclists will face the climb over Sýkořice. The mountainous stage includes three mountain prizes and one sprint segment.

"It’s a unique opportunity to experience the Křivoklátsko region on completely closed roads. At least in the next season, the Kopcovitá L'Etape Czech Republic will be held at a different location, so no road cycling fan should miss the start," says Přemysl Novák, inviting lovers of road cycling to take part. "The route for 2026 will be completely different. The start and finish of the Kopcovitá stage in 2026 will definitely be in Prague, but on the other side of the Vltava," he adds mysteriously.

A significant change for Kopcovitá L'Etape 2025 is that the first category – the long route – will start at 12 p.m. The capacity of the starting field is 1,000 cyclists for the long route, 1,000 participants for the short route, and 1,500 for the medium route.

Tour de France winner in Prachatice?

The second event of the L'Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France series in 2025 will be hosted by Prachatice, where the Mountain Stage made its debut this season, co-organised by the South Bohemian Region. The second instalment in history will take place on 2nd August.

"I am genuinely pleased that our city, our region, and especially our citizens, created excellent facilities and an amazing atmosphere for the debut of such a prestigious event. It was a highly professional sports event, and Prachatice proved to be a worthy partner. We aim to build on the successful start and improve many aspects. Cyclists have ample opportunity to train properly so they can once again bravely tackle the Šumava hills in August, after leaving the Renaissance backdrop of the Great Square at the sound of the starting gun," says Jan Bauer, Mayor of Prachatice.

The Mountain L'Etape 2025 will be 110 kilometres long with an elevation gain of 2192 metres. Forty percent of the route is different from the 2024 edition. The passage through the main square of Český Krumlov, a city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, will undoubtedly be particularly attractive. The itinerary still includes the climb to Kleť, while the new feature will be the ascent to Libín Saddle. The route includes a total of three mountain primes.

For the South Bohemian event, the organisers are also working hard to secure the participation of a star ambassador, a Tour de France stage winner. "We believe we will reach an agreement, and the participation of this cyclist will provide extra motivation for those cyclists who are unsure about taking on the route starting in Prachatice," says Přemysl Novák about the event, which is open to 1,000 cyclists and will start at 1 p.m. on 2nd August 2025.

Another exciting attraction will be the inaugural announcement of the overall series ranking for L'Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France, which will be determined by the total times from both the Kopcovitá and Mountain stages.

Both events in the L'Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France series will offer a rich programme even in the week leading up to the race in 2025. "We’ll actually start on Tuesday," admits Přemysl Novák. The programme will include Family Rides, where cyclists on any type of bike can participate. These rides will take place on a designated circuit that is completely closed to motor traffic, with a profile suitable for families with children.

There will also be special rides exclusively for women in both Prague and Prachatice, under the patronage of L'Etape Czech Republic ambassador Tereza Huříková, a world champion in time trial and cross-country mountain biking. One of the social rides in the week leading up to the race in both locations will feature legends of Czech cycling, Ján Svorada, a three-time stage winner at the Tour de France, and Tomáš Bábek, winner of the European Games and European track cycling champion.

Registrations for both races of L'Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France 2025 can be made at www.letapeczech.cz. As part of the Black Friday event, those interested can use the code "dvacet2025" to receive a 20% discount until December 1st.