Even more nail-biting than usual—the overall victory margin came down to just two seconds! This year’s Peace Race U23 (Course de la Paix) once again drew the sport’s brightest young talents to the Czech Republic at the turn of May and June. Four days in the Jeseníky Mountains and their foothills delivered a stack of unforgettable moments. We picked ten of the best.
A growing audience
With its storied history, the Peace Race hasn’t lost an ounce of prestige—even in its U23 guise, where tomorrow’s stars fight for stage honours. On social media the Course de la Paix reached millions this year, with viewership up 50% year-on-year.
A 120 km opening-stage break
A similar script to last year—minus the cherry on top. Stage 1 from Krnov to Šternberk featured a 120 km break by Cedric Abt, Riccardo Lorello, and Freddy Avila. Unlike 2024, the peloton reeled them in before the line, and Victor Loulergue (FRA) sprinted over the cobbles for the win—a rider on the cusp of the elite with Groupama–FDJ.
Pogačar’s compatriot (and teammate) takes a bow
The sport’s biggest star Tadej Pogačar won the Peace Race in 2018, and this year Slovenian fans had more to cheer. In Rýmařov, Anže Ravbar—just 20 years old—won Stage 2 in a bunch sprint. Like Pogačar, he rides for UAE Team Emirates (cutting his teeth mainly with the devo squad).
Dalby runner-up again
A Peace Race fixture, Simon Dalby (DEN, Uno-X Mobility) lived up to expectations and fought hard for yellow, but—just like in 2023—finished second overall. In both editions he conquered the queen stage: Dlouhé Stráně then, Červenohorské sedlo the year before.
A queen-stage crown wasn’t enough
Last year the iconic ascent to the Dlouhé Stráně upper reservoir decided the GC; this time the queen-stage laurel wasn’t enough. Dalby crossed the line first, but Pau Martí (ESP), third on the stage in the same time, took yellow thanks to bonus seconds.
The tightest of margins
For three straight years, the Peace Race GC has been decided by tiny gaps. After two editions with a four-second winning margin, 2025 was even tighter: Martí beat Dalby by a mere two seconds.
Yellow changed hands only once
Unlike last year, when three different riders wore yellow across the four stages, 2025 was far calmer. Loulergue held the jersey after Stages 1 and 2; on Dlouhé Stráně it passed to the eventual overall winner, Pau Martí—and stayed there.
A director’s Enyaq—Tour de France style
For the first time, Škoda Auto partnered both the May Peace Race U23 and the August Czech Tour, giving the convoy a Tour de France vibe—complete with a fully electric Škoda Enyaq as the red director’s car. From its open roof, Leopold König waved the flag for each stage start, then ran race control from the cockpit.
New routes again
True to tradition, organisers once more took the world’s U23 talents to fresh roads. Versus last year the peloton visited Šternberk and Zábřeh, while the closing stage ran in reverse, from Jeseník to Šumperk.
The atmosphere delivered
It may be “just” an U23 race, but cycling fans showed—again—that they’re keen to watch raw, attacking youth. The noise was relentless, not only in the start/finish towns but all along the roadside. “Fans gave us an incredible welcome in every town on the route,” noted race director—and former pro—Leopold König.
Foto: Jan Brychta, Markéta Navrátilová
