#NESESEDNEŠ If Dad Won’t Dismount, Neither Will I!

He’s conquered Alpine passes from the saddle. Yet his greatest joy wasn’t found among mountain peaks thousands of metres high, but during the hilly L’Etape Czech Republic by Tour de France – on the medium route, side by side with his son.
“We’ve ridden it three times now, and each time we’ve been thrilled. The first one completely blew us away. So much so that right after we crossed the finish line, we were already asking whether we could sign up for the next edition,” say the regular participants of the Czech Republic’s biggest amateur cycling event, smiling.

“I’ve been cycling since childhood. And I never really longed to race. Then, for Christmas in 2022, my son gave me an entry to L’Etape. I didn’t know what to expect. I thought to myself – I’m not built for this. But the race completely captivated me,” says Ivo Šejna with a grin.

He had his first road bike as a teenager. “My grandad gave me the money back in communist times for a green ‘Favorit’ – a rare find. One chainring, three gears at the back. A sturdy bike for any terrain. And incredibly heavy,” he recalls with a chuckle. Though both his parents and grandparents cycled, no one taught him. “I taught myself. I’d go downhill and gradually added pedalling. I spent my summers on forest and field paths near my gran’s cottage.”

A Family Affair

That green ‘Favorit’, later covered in stickers and painted over in parts with blue, was also the first bike of his thirty-year-younger son, Radek. “I used to ride in a seat mounted on the top tube,” says the younger member of the family team. “Later I got a bike without training wheels. Dad taught me to ride and according to stories, I was pedalling before I could talk. I moved from a balance bike to BMX, then mountain biking, and finally to a road bike.”

When the mountain biking boom swept the Czech Republic in the 1990s, the older Šejna got a trekking bike. Later, an aluminium road bike, and during the season of his L’Etape debut, he added a Festka to his collection.
“I really enjoy it. I’ve got forest-themed wallpaper in my office, and when I’m not riding, the bike hangs from one of the branches. It’s part of the home décor,” explains Ivo.
“About ten years ago, I met Michal Moureček from Festka. Their bikes aren’t just machines to me – each one tells a story. That’s why it’s hanging in the living room. And I’ve even convinced my wife to get a road bike too,” laughs Radek.

Family Goals

In the future, the Šejna family team might appear as a trio in one of the L’Etape Czech Republic races. In the 2025 season, it’ll still be just the men.
“We attract quite a bit of attention – mostly because of the bikes,” smiles Ivo. “We don’t aim to race each other. For me, it’s about the experience of doing something like this with my dad. Thanks to L’Etape, we now spend more time together,” says Radek.

They each rack up several thousand kilometres a season, but mostly individually. The elder Šejna lives in Písek, the younger in Prague.
“We definitely don’t ride together as often as we’d like. If Radek’s heading to Písek, we text to check the weather and whether he should bring his bike. And about two weeks before each race, we always pre-ride the route to gauge how much time we’ll spend on the climbs,” says Ivo.
“We plan our tactics,” Radek adds with a laugh. “We never race each other. We ride together, take turns setting the pace. Sometimes I drop Dad a bit on the climbs, but I always wait at the top. For our first ride, we had a set pace, but riding in the peloton gave us a two-kilometre-per-hour boost on average. The adrenaline helped, for sure,” he says.
“The start at Strahov, in that massive, pulsing crowd – that’s an unforgettable experience,” they both agree.

Cycling as Balance

Their jobs are mostly desk-based, so time on the bike is something they treasure.
“It helps me stay in shape. I always gain a bit over winter. The bike is my form of relaxation,” says Ivo.
“It clears my head. I don’t only cycle – in winter I ski, in summer I surf or run. But cycling definitely takes up the most time. It helps me feel better physically and mentally,” adds Radek, whose usual training grounds are north of Prague. His father has a slight advantage.
“The Písek hills are criss-crossed with gorgeous tarmac roads. You can really push yourself in just an hour. There are also amazing routes along the Otava river towards Strakonice.”

The Motto: Don’t Get Off

For years, the highlight of Ivo’s cycling season was riding through the Alps with friends.
“It’s a tradition going back 30 years. We ride with mates, our peers. Some of the climbs we’ve done three times. We spur each other on – these are brutally tough climbs. Sometimes we’re at our limits in the steepest sections, but we don’t dismount. We fight through,” says Ivo, pointing out that he’s been living the 2025 L’Etape Czech Republic motto – #NESESEDNEŠ – for many years.
“I’ve played sports since I was young. I think sport shapes you to overcome obstacles and teaches determination – to never give up. It translates to other areas of life too, because in all walks of life, there comes a moment when you need to step out of your comfort zone, grit your teeth and push on. Don’t dismount,” he reflects.

“Every ride with Dad is a motivation. We only clock a few hundred kilometres together each year, so that time is precious. He’s thirty years older and still going strong. He never gives up – so neither can I. He drives me to do better,” says Radek with a smile.
“Someday I’ll probably go for an e-bike – it prolongs your active years. But not yet. For now, I’m staying in the saddle,” his dad adds.

They’re already looking forward to the electrifying atmosphere of the L’Etape Czech Republic peloton weeks in advance. Ivo even considered entering the Mountain Stage, scheduled for 2 August in Prachatice.
“I watched the first edition,” he admits. “But I’m sticking with the hilly stage. The atmosphere always sweeps you away and you end up racing a bit with the others. I want to enjoy the experience, not collapse at the finish,” laughs Ivo.
“We once went all-in for a sprint prime. But it took so much out of us that neither of us felt like pulling after that,” Radek says, grinning.
“There’s a lot of adrenaline in the race – and it drives you to find your limits,” the younger Šejna adds, still open to taking part in another L’Etape Czech Republic event. Why?

Because DON'T GET OFF.