L’Etape Czech Republic Promises a Grand Experience: Two Tour de France Champions to Appear in the Czech Republic!

Two champions of the Tour de France, the world’s most prestigious cycling race, will be visiting the Czech Republic in the coming months! They will participate as ambassadors in the L’Etape Czech Republic races. Sir Bradley Wiggins, winner of the 2012 Tour de France and five-time Olympic champion, will represent Škoda WeLoveCycling at the hilly L’Etape Czech Republic 2025, scheduled for Saturday 21 June 2025. Andy Schleck, winner of the 2010 Grande Boucle, will lead the peloton at the Mountain L’Etape in Prachatice on 2 August as an official ambassador.

"After last year’s collaboration with Alberto Contador, we wanted to raise the bar even further. And what’s higher than a Tour de France winner? We wanted to match the standard set by El Pistolero in the 2024 season. That’s why we decided to feature two Tour de France champions across two races," explains Přemysl Novák, head of the L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France project, the country’s largest amateur road cycling event held on closed roads.

Ride the Hills with a Knight

Bradley Wiggins is the first Briton to win the Tour de France, originally making his mark as a track cyclist. He has four Olympic gold medals from the velodrome, plus another from the road time trial at the London 2012 Olympics. He also won the World Championship time trial, held the world hour record, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Wiggins was originally slated to be an ambassador two years ago, but was unable to fulfil the contract due to personal reasons.

"I believe everyone deserves a second chance. We see Sir Wiggins as a remarkable figure, and the story of his cycling career – as well as the years since – is truly inspirational," says Přemysl Novák of the renewed collaboration with the 44-year-old champion, who retired at the end of the 2016 season.

On Tuesday 22 April, Bradley Wiggins toured part of the route of the Hilly L’Etape Czech Republic, which he’ll ride this June as an ambassador for Škoda WeLoveCycling. The race on 21 June will be preceded by a Friday autograph session at Prague’s Strahov, where the race village will be set up.

"One of the magical aspects of these events is discovering new places and new countries – seeing what the local cycling community is like and how passionate the fans are," says Wiggins, who will be visiting the Czech Republic for the first time. "One of my childhood cycling heroes was your sprinter Ján Svorada. There have always been Czech riders in the peloton, even if not in huge numbers. But those who raced were always hardcore. I always enjoyed chatting in the peloton with Zdeněk Štybar – a great cyclist, a bit of an individualist from cyclo-cross, but full of that classic cycling spirit," the British legend recalls.

The race will start from the iconic Větrná Hůrka in Prague for the fifth time in history. Due to upcoming redevelopment in the area, this famous site – which hosted the World Championships 44 years ago – will be absent from future race routes. This year presents a final opportunity to ride the three picturesque circuits stretching 66 km (600 m elevation), 97 km (1,000 m), and 139 km (1,900 m) from Prague to the Křivoklát region.

Alongside Wiggins, other ambassadors include Zdeněk Štybar, stage winner at the 2015 Tour de France and victor of one-day classics like Strade Bianche and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad; Tomáš Bábek, 2019 European Games track cycling champion; and Tereza Huříková, former world champion in time trial and cross-country mountain biking.

For the first time in L’Etape Czech Republic history, Petr Čech, co-owner of the organising agency and former professional football goalkeeper (Champions League and Europa League winner), will join the peloton. He’ll ride the Medium route.

Only a few dozen entries remain for the popular Medium route, while the Short and Long routes are currently half full.

Through the Scenic South Bohemian Countryside with Schleck

The second-ever Mountain L’Etape Czech Republic, held with support from the city of Prachatice and the South Bohemian Region, will take place on 2 August, starting in Prachatice. Riders will tackle a stunning route through South Bohemia, including a unique passage through Český Krumlov and a climb up to Kleť Mountain. Among them will be Andy Schleck. The Luxembourgish cyclist and 2010 Tour de France champion returns to the Czech Republic after three years – he previously served as ambassador for the Hilly L’Etape.

"I flew home buzzing after my last experience – the fans lining the route were amazing. I rode in the amateur peloton and the roads were packed with spectators. It was just unforgettable. So when the organisers offered me the chance to take part in the Mountain L’Etape Czech Republic, I didn’t hesitate," says the 39-year-old, who also boasts a Monument win at Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2009.

The 110 km (2,200 m elevation) route will be closed entirely for the L’Etape peloton and will include a once-in-a-lifetime ride through the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Český Krumlov, which will belong solely to cyclists on Saturday 2 August. "In the future, we’re aiming to move into a region with a less demanding profile. We’ve seen interest in L’Etape from other parts of the country, especially from the eastern regions, and we’d like to accommodate that," says Přemysl Novák.

Currently, 60% of the capacity for the Mountain route – which will be tackled by the only rider in history to win the white jersey (sponsored at the time by Škoda Auto) three times – has been sold.

In the Saddle with the Motto #NESESEDNEŠ

The motto of the 2025 edition of L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France is #NESESEDNEŠ – a straightforward yet powerful slogan, representing an individual challenge for every cyclist, while also reflecting the lifelong presence of cycling in our lives.

"Cycling is a sport that accompanies us from childhood to old age. It connects generations – including seniors, who are often an overlooked group we would like to involve more in L’Etape Czech Republic activities. Seniors often form the backbone of the volunteer teams supporting fan zones in local communities. That’s why we’ve started a collaboration with the Krása pomoci Foundation," adds Přemysl Novák, referring to the charity focused on dignified and fulfilling ageing for the elderly.

L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France is the country’s largest event for amateur cyclists, attracting nearly 5,000 participants across two races. The event is part of the global L’Etape series managed by A.S.O., the organiser of the Tour de France. Races are held on five continents in more than 30 countries. In the Czech Republic, the L’Etape series also includes regional group rides, training camps, and organised trips to major international races such as the Tour de France.