THE ENYAQ REPRESENTS SAFETY TO ME, SAYS THE L'ÉTAPE PROJECT DIRECTOR
His association with the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto has now lasted six years. For the vast majority of that time, it has been linked to the all-electric Škoda Enyaq. As Director of L'Étape Czech Republic, Přemysl Novák enjoys the same level of comfort as the director of the Tour de France itself, the world's biggest cycling race.
"It's a unique car for everyday use. I wouldn't change it," says the man behind the largest amateur cycling event in the Czech Republic.
What is your relationship with cars?
A car is more than just a means of transport for me. I'm a genuine motoring enthusiast — a very passionate one. I enjoy testing and trying new things.
Do you remember your first driving experiences?
I started as a teenager. At fourteen, I obtained my first licence so that I could buy a Jawa 23 Mustang at fifteen. When I turned sixteen, I gained a licence for a large motorcycle. As soon as I turned eighteen, I passed my driving test and shortly afterwards bought my first car. It was a first-generation Volkswagen Golf with a broken driveshaft.
Were you so eager to own a car that you took your driving test as soon as you came of age?
For me, a bicycle, a motorcycle and a car all represent freedom. Back then, I bought the car for 5,000 Czech crowns, put a No Fear sticker on the rear window and felt fantastic. I've always been fascinated by the idea that I can get into a car in Prague in the morning and be swimming in the sea by the evening.
For holidays, I much prefer travelling by car to flying. I enjoy the journey itself — the whole process. That's one of the reasons why my family and I bought a motorhome before the Covid pandemic. When the pandemic subsequently broke out, we travelled all over the Czech Republic. Once restrictions were eased, we explored half of Europe. And we're still discovering new places today.
You currently drive the all-electric Škoda Enyaq. Is it a car that suits your taste?
I've always enjoyed trying new things. During the first edition of L'Étape, we still used a Superb plug-in hybrid because the Enyaq was reserved exclusively for the Tour de France. However, from the second edition onwards, I was provided with a fully electric Škoda Enyaq. I've been using it ever since.
And I wouldn't change it, even though the early days of ownership came with challenges due to the lack of charging infrastructure. At times, you really felt like one of those pioneering aviators from the early days of flight...
But over the last five years, things have moved on significantly, making life easier for electric vehicle drivers?
The infrastructure has improved enormously. Fast chargers are everywhere now, and advances in battery technology have also increased driving range. I recently saw a statistic showing that the average electric vehicle owner drives just 34 kilometres a day, which is a distance you can easily recharge overnight from a standard 220-volt household socket.
After five years of experience, are you an advocate of electric mobility?
From a user's perspective, I now prefer an electric car. If I were to leave the L'Étape project today and buy a private vehicle, I would automatically choose an Enyaq. For everyday driving, it works brilliantly.
It's comfortable and solidly built. Visibility is excellent, and thanks to its impressive acceleration, you feel safe not only while driving in general but also when overtaking.
Aren't longer journeys requiring more frequent charging a disadvantage of electric cars?
Not at all, because when I travel abroad by car, it's usually for holidays. And on holiday, I'm very happy to slow down a little and enjoy the journey. I can do the rushing at work when we're preparing L'Étape Czech Republic by Tour de France.
