International cycling stars of the future, the best Czech riders, and the most challenging climbs in the country, comparable in metres gained to the Alps. That in a nutshell will be this year's U23 Peace Race, which will take place from June 8 to 11 in the Jeseníky. In the past, Tour de France winner, Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia, the two-time world champion from France, Julian Alaphilippe, and the recent stage winner on the Giro, Filippo Zana from Italy, have all competed in the race. This season too, we can expect to see many of the greatest talents in twenty-one teams from around the world.
"We organise races that are regularly on the calendars of the world's best riders and teams, we prepare attractive and challenging stages, and we place great emphasis on safety. We intend that the road closures will restrict life in the region as little as possible and we balance this with an attractive spectacle. It goes without saying that we will clean up after the event and there will be no mess left behind on the roads," said race director Leopold König.
This year, a total of 420 kilometres await the rising stars of the peloton, during which they will climb 7,560 metres. The “queen stage” has undergone changes compared to last year; the youngsters will climb Dlouhé stráně on June 10, and then also the Červenohorské sedlo. "Jeseniky reveals the strength and endurance of all riders. Without exaggeration, we can say that it is a race comparable to those somewhere in the Pyrenees or the Alps," emphasises Leopold König.
In order to raise the safety of the U23 Peace Race, Leo König invited South African Robert Hunter, a nine-time Tour de France participant, to join the organising team. He is also in charge of safety for the Tour de Suisse. "Organisation at World Tour standard is routine for him. Cooperation with such experts is the right way forward for both the quality and the safety of the race," says Leopold König.
The general partner of the race is the company Allwyn. “We, at Allwyn, are looking forward to watching the events of this year’s Peace Race unfold. An extraordinary event taking place in the beautiful Jeseníky mountains with 22 national teams participating from around the world. The race has a rich history and is rightfully regarded as one of the most inclusive and prestigious cycling tours in the world. We believe in its power to transform lives and inspire individuals to reach their full potential. Importantly, the race supports gifted cyclists in achieving their potential. As with other stages in the Nations Cup, it fosters the best emerging talent in cycling and affords many the opportunity to showcase their skills and pursue their dreams,” says Pavel Turek, Allwyn’s Chief Officer of Global Brand, Corporate Communication, and CSR.
The Peace Race, as part of the Nations Cup, is in the highest international category for riders under the age of 23. It also includes stage battles in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and France. An exhibition of photos from the Peace Race, the Czech Tour, Tour de France and Giro d'Italia forms part of the accompanying program. Leading sports photographers led by Markéta Navrátilová, who has photographed twenty-five editions of the Tour de France, will exhibit their work at Prague Bořislavka. The pictures will be on display from the end of June to August, and the proceeds from sales will also go to support disadvantaged children via the Czech Olympic Foundation.
Spectators are welcome at the destination towns and on Červenohorské sedlo
On the weekend of June 10 and 11, spectators will be treated to a big-screen fan zone, a slackline show, stalls selling official merchandise and refreshments, and a variety of music and dance performances. On Saturday, during the queen‘s stage, there will be a fan zone on Červenohorské sedlo, which you will be able to reach by car until 1:30 p.m., after which the road will be closed from both sides and you can only reach the hill by bike or on foot. On Sunday, the show will move to Jeseník.
The organizers want to be good guests and limit traffic disruption as much as possible. As the race passes, roads will be closed for the shortest possible time. The complete list of closures (Jeseník, Bruntál, Rýmařov) can be found here.
