The Jeseníky Mountains to test cycling’s rising elite once again as Peace Race unveils 2026 route

Four stages covering more than 500 kilometres and nearly 10,000 metres of elevation gain. The 13th edition of the Peace Race for Under-23 riders will once again serve up a demanding test for some of the world’s most promising young cyclists, who will return to battle for top honours from 28 to 31 May in the striking scenery of the Olomouc and Moravian-Silesian regions.

This year’s edition of the Peace Race will also be held for the first time as a UCI Europe Tour 2.2U event. Alongside national teams, development riders from professional squads will line up at the start, adding even greater international depth to the field. Organisers also report that the start list is virtually full, with 21 of the 22 available places already confirmed.

“The Peace Race is an exceptional opportunity for young riders. It is a race that allows them to show their talent in truly demanding conditions and take another step towards the top level of world cycling. This is often where the stories of future stars begin,” says Peace Race president Robert Kolář.

The four-day stage race will once again offer a varied mix of rolling terrain and a full-blooded mountain finish. The race opens with a stage from Jeseník to Šumperk, which, despite its relatively ‘sprinter-friendly’ nature, can still be selective thanks to its profile and can punish any lapse in concentration. On day two, the peloton will travel from Uničov to Rýmařov, a stage with enough climbing to encourage aggressive racing and a range of possible outcomes, from a breakaway success to a bunch sprint.

The race will culminate in the queen stage from Zábřeh to Dlouhé Stráně, which features the greatest elevation gain of this year’s edition. It is here that the biggest selection can be expected and where the decisive gaps in the overall standings are likely to open up. The finale will be a demanding stage from Krnov to Šternberk, where the undulating terrain could still shake up the general classification.

“The stages have been designed so the riders never get a chance to relax. The combination of distance, climbing and different types of finishes will test endurance, recovery and teamwork. The queen stage to Dlouhé Stráně is traditionally the place where you find out who really has the qualities of a climber and who can handle the pressure,” adds Peace Race sporting director Leopold König. Fans can also look forward to the traditional accompanying programme in the host start and finish towns.

The Under-23 Peace Race has long enjoyed a reputation as an event that helps shape future professionals. Riders who have appeared on the start line in the past include Tadej Pogačar, the 2018 winner, Julian Alaphilippe, Marc Hirschi and Tao Geoghegan Hart. Among the Czech riders who have made their mark in the Jeseníky are Mathias Vacek, now a member of WorldTour team Lidl-Trek, and Pavel Bittner, who rides for WorldTour squad Team Picnic PostNL.

For the organisers, the event featuring cycling’s next generation of stars traditionally serves as a major test ahead of the August-held Czech Tour, which also heads into the Jeseníky and Beskydy mountains. This June, the Peace Race and Czech Tour organising team will also stage the Czech National Road Championships in the demanding terrain of the Jeseníky.