Adding a seventh triumph in the 17-year history of the Nations Cup and confirming absolute dominance in the UCI's series for up-and-coming riders under 23. That will be the goal this season for the French youngsters, who dominated last year's edition convincingly thanks to their triumphs at the Polish Orlen Cup and then at the Peace Race.
The French have enjoyed their first Nations Cup victory after an eight-year hiatus, but with six triumphs overall, they are the most successful nation in the competition for the rising stars of world cycling. Race of Peace winner Brieuc Rolland and Orlen Cup champion Mathys Rondel contributed the most to their victory, combining for 33 points. Together, Le Bleus collected 88 points and had a respectable 26 point lead over second placed Great Britain.
Before the final event of the series, the prestigious Tour de l'Avenir, which has been the Tour de France for young talent for decades, the biggest challengers to the French were the teams from Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark. However, it was the cross-Channel riders who climbed to second place in the standings thanks to Joseph Blackmore's overall triumph, with the Danes finishing third.
Cycling fans can look forward to dramatic battles between the predatory youth this year as well. The Orlen Cup takes place in mid-May, and practically immediately afterwards, the rising stars of cycling will be on Czech soil at the Peace Race (29 May-1 June 2025). The Tour d'Avenir will then traditionally take place at the end of August.
The Peace Race for riders up to 23 years of age currently continues the rich tradition of the event, which since 1948 has become the largest amateur cycling race in Central and Eastern Europe. Legends such as Jan Vesely and later Olaf Ludwig and Uwe Ampler were born on its tracks. In the modern history of the race, which began in 2013 as an event for riders under 23, the overall winners include riders established in the pro peloton, led by the biggest superstar of today, Tadei Pogačar.
Similarly to the Czech Tour in August, which last year featured a record eight teams from the prestigious WorldTour category, in the Peace Race the riders have to deal with the demanding profile of the Jeseníky Mountains, where only the strongest will succeed. Just like last year, cycling fans can look forward to seeing new faces who can triumph at the biggest races on the planet in the future.
"The Peace Race for riders under 23 has earned its position among the prestigious races and every year we have a very good starting field. Fans can look forward to dramatic duels between cycling hopefuls at the end of May and the beginning of June, which will also be an attractive invitation to the Czech Tour in August, where some of the stars of the pro peloton should not be missing again," said Leopold König, the director of both events and a former professional cyclist.
Foto: Barbora Reichová, Markéta Navrátilová, Jan Brychta
