Sep 13, 2021 | Nezařazené
For the fifth time, the spa centre of Karlovy Vary has welcomed the prestigious Triathlon World Cup race! In a fantastic atmosphere created by thousands of fans, German Nygaard-Priester and Swiss Derron won.
Of the eleven Czech triathletes, Jan Volár performed best in 15th place at the CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary race.
The beautiful spa centre of Karlovy Vary welcomed participants of the Olympic Games, elite world triathletes and eleven Czech triathletes. Awaiting them there were the following distances: 1,500 metre swim in the Rolava Lake, 40 km of cycling with seven hard climbs to the Castle Hill, which make the Karlovy Vary race one of the toughest Olympic triathlons in the world. Finally, they completed a 10 km run along the colonnades along the Teplá River.
In the men’s race, Hungarian Márk Dévay was the first to run out of the water of the Rolava Lake. The best swimming performance from the Czech Republic was given by David Martin, who, like Jan Volár and Radim Grebík, reached the second cycling group of 25 triathletes. A four-member leading pack was riding with more than half a minute gap, with Japanese Hojo, Italian Crociani and Portuguese Silva in addition to Dévay.
Lukáš Červenka joined the group after the first transition are in 37th to 42nd place. He managed to catch up with the competitors in front of him during the race and in the second transition area he jumped down from the bike at the 31st position.
Tomáš Zikmund and Tomáš Kříž completed a challenging cycling track with seven climbs in the group to 41st to 48th position. At first, Jan Čelůstka also rode with them, but the experienced triathlete withdrew from the race during the cycling part. Filip Václavík, on the other hand, was able to group up with other two competitors. However, he wasn´t able to keep up with the high pace, so he arrived at the transition as the 50th.
In the running section, all four leaders paid for the cycling section, which cost them significantly more forces than the members of the large second group, and began to fall through the ranks. The victory was secured by a superb running performance by Lasse Nygaard-Priester of Germany, who finished in 1:53:31. British Grant Sheldon finished second and Hungarian Csongor Lehmann took bronze from Karlovy Vary.
“The absolute best and definitely the biggest victory of my career! It was only my second World Cup race and I managed to win right away,” Priester laughed after the race. “I enjoyed the race immensely. There was a great atmosphere, a very demanding track and there were a lot of fans standing alongside it.”
Of the three Czech competitors in the second group, Jan Volár, who took the 15th place, finished at the best position. “I haven’t done well here in the last few years, so I hope I broke the bad luck today. Swimming didn’t work out here again because there were many clashes in the water. And cycling is difficult for me in the hills when I weigh over 80 kilos,” said Jan Volár. “While it is true that some of the best people have been missing in Karlovy Vary this year, the starting field was of good quality and hopefully today’s result shows that I already belong to the wider world elite and if I continue like this, I will make my way to the podium in bigger races.”
Only eleven seconds worse was Radim Grebík, who finished 19th. “The running performance was negatively affected by the health complications I had, but I think I did quite well despite them,” Grebík said. “Compared to last year´s World Cup here and past races, this is a result and performance shift for me, for which I am very happy. I am also very happy with all the Czech results here.”
Czech female triathletes struggled
Of the four Czech female triathletes on the starting list, only one was targeted in the crowded Theatre Square. Two-time race winner Vendula Frintová did not start due to the illness. And the bad luck kept accompanying the Czech team during the race itself. Tereza Zimovjanová, who came out of the water ranked best, caught up with the second group of cyclists, but she fell while crossing to the spa centre and the damaged wheel rim did not allow her to continue.
Petra Kuříková rode her bike in the third group, in which she was ranked 17th-25th, but after the fourth of seven cycling circuits she withdrew due to a severe headache that had plagued her from the start.
Of the Czech triathletes, only Alžběta Hrušková remained in the race field, completing the swim course with a one-minute loss to the fastest swimmers. During the cycling part, she was around 30th place – she led a group of five competitors to 31st position into the second transition area. She finished 33rd. “The Karlovy Vary race is beautiful and I am very glad that so many people came to watch and cheer us up. However, at the same time I am terribly disappointed because I had nothing to take from today and I do not know how I got to the finish,” she said frustrated after her result.
The victory from Karlovy Vary was taken by the Swiss Julie Derron, who exited the waters of the Rolava Lake on the 15th position, but soon worked her way up to the leading group on the bike. It numbered 13 triathletes when the female triathletes arrived at the second transition area. She shot from this transition area as the eighth, quickly getting to the lead, where she was fighting the Italian Seregni, but soon she built up her leading position and ran the last lap on her own. Her winning time was 2:06:57.
From behind, Japanese Ai Ueda was appoaching her in the running section. Ueda demonstrated her running skills which she turned into a spectacular running performance that received a huge ovation and moved her from the 13th rank to silver! The bronze was awarded to Italian Bianca Seregni.
Results
2021 World Cup Karlovy Vary, September 12
Men: 1. Lasse Nygaard-Priester (Germany) 1:53:31, 2. Grant Sheldon (Great Britain) +34, 3. Csongor Lehmann (Hungary) +41… 15. Jan Volár +2:07, 19. Radim Grebík +2:18, 29. David Martin +4:40, 42. Lukáš Červenka +7:48, 45. Tomáš Zikmund +8:20, 50. Tomáš Kříž +9:21, 52. Filip Václavík +12:28, Jan Čelůstka did not finish
Women: 1. Julie Derronová (Švýc.) 2:06:57, 2. Ai Ueda (Jap.) +24, 3. Biana Seregni (It.) +35 … 33. Alžběta Hrušková +14:20, Petra Kuříková and Tereza Zimovjanová did not finish.
Complete results can be found here.
Sep 9, 2021 | Nezařazené
The world’s best triathlon will once again dominate in Karlovy Vary! Participants of the Tokyo Olympics, the best Czech triathletes, amateur athletes and whole families with children come to the iconic spa center to enjoy the CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary. The highlight of the busy schedule will be the World Cup race in the Olympic triathlon!
Will Vendula Frintová take credit for her third World Cup victory in Karlovy Vary? Will Petra Kuříková be able to improve her previous maximum, which is fourth place? Will Tereza Zimovjanová and Radim Grebík confirm the rapidly growing performance?
Nine Czech triathletes will be at the start of the World Cup on Sunday, September 12. In addition to the aforementioned, Jan Čelůstka, Jan Volár, Tomáš Zikmund, Lukáš Červenka and Alžběta Hrušková will compete in Karlovy Vary.
They’re going to have tough competition! The starting list includes, for example, The Germans Marlene Gomez-Islinger, who managed to win the well-cast World Cup in Arzachena, and Lisa Tertsch, European under-23 champion and winner of the Antwerp World Cup. With the starting number 1, experienced Japanese Ai Ueda will go to the start, having already won ten World Cup races.
The men’s race will feature Swiss Adrien Briffod, who was long in the lead on the first place in the final race of the World Championships in Edmonton to eventually win an excellent 5th place. American Chase Mcqueen shone at the World Relay Championships in Montreal, where he led the US triathlon team to victory as a finisher. Dylan Mccullough won silver with the New Zealanders in the same race. Hungarian Csongor Lehmann is a recent under-23 world champion, while Chilean Diego Moya made a great showing in the swimming section at the Tokyo Olympics. And Japanese Takumi Hojo is shocking the world this year with his fast performance jump!
The Olympic distances await the participants of the World Cup in Karlovy Vary. First, they take 1.5 km of swimming in the lake of the Rolava leisure area. During the 40 km cycling course, they will cross to the spa center, where they will face seven circuits with a difficult climb to the Castle Hill. Finally, they complete a 10km run divided into four laps leading through the historic city centre. “We look forward to seeing triathletes again in the spa centre, which was newly listed by UNESCO. Every year after the event, the competitors tell us that they have not seen such a beautiful and demanding route anywhere else in the world,” says the race director Vladimir Malý.
The center of the race will be located on the Theatre Square, where a second transition area, a finish line and a grandstand for several hundred spectators will be able to watch the live broadcast of the race on a large screen.
The entire World Cup race will be broadcast live on the Internet television TriathlonLIVE.tv. ČT Sport will offer direct entries from the men’s race, and the women’s race will broadcast the whole. Radiožurnál Sport will also provide detailed coverage of the race.
The men’s race starts at 10:00, the women take to the track at 3 p.m.
A challenge for amateur triathletes
All amateur athletes will be able to enjoy the same beautiful tracks and equally comfortable facilities before the triathlon stars. The Age Groups race will take place on Saturday, which is intended for recreational and performance triathletes, who will fight for points in the Czech Cup in the Olympic and sprint triathlon. They can enjoy 700 metres of swimming, 20 km of cycling and 5 km of running.
“Anyone who has respect from the whole triathlon can split the race in the relay and thus complete only one of the disciplines,” invites all amateur athletes Vladimír Malý, noting that it is also possible to register on the spot.
Petr Kopfstein, a Karlovy Vary patriot and one of the best pilots in the world, who has made it to the podium in the prestigious Red Bull Air Race series, will also be at the start on Saturday. “I may not be trained the way I want to, but I can’t miss the atmosphere that reigns during the races. The track leads through the most beautiful places we have in Karlovy Vary,” he says.
An event for the whole family
On Friday, the Czech Pupil Cup will up up the thrilling triathlon programme, which will take place in the Rolava leisure area. The same place will belong to the children on Saturday morning – they will stand at the start of the Geis Baby Duathlon, which is intended for the very smallest and their parents, with whom they can compete in the relay. On the track there will be not only bikes, but also tricycles, pushbikes and a lot of laughter.
In Karlovy Vary you will not be bored for a minute. After dark, the most beautiful buildings in Karlovy Vary light up thanks to colour projections and laser shows. On Friday and Saturday there will be a light festival VARY°ZÁŘÍ! One of the projections will be, for example, five dozen gradually light-up runners who will create a synchronized race in the beautiful environment of Dvorak’s orchards and thus refer to the World Cup in triathlon.
As part of the cultural programme, shared with the VARY°ZÁŘÍ festival, you will also enjoy a music show on the Theatre Square – Laura a její tygři music band will perform on Friday from 8 pm, from 10 pm Funky Monx. On Saturday at 9 pm, duo Malalata will take over the stage.
Program
Friday, September 10
13:00 Czech Pupils Cup (8–9 a 10–11 years of age) – Rolava leisure time area
14:00 Czech Pupils Cup (12-13 years of age) – Rolava leisure time area
15:00 Czech Pupils Cup (14-15 years of age) – Rolava leisure time area
15:55 Czech Pupils Cup (vyhlášení) – Rolava leisure time area
20:00 Concert – Laura a její tygři / Laura and her tigers band Theatre Square
22:00 performance by Funky Monx – Theatre Square
Saturday, September 11
13:30 Age Groups (Czech Cup, 20-39 years of age)
17:00 Age Groups (Czech Cup, youth, juniors, 40+ years of age, paratriathlon, relays)
19:15 awarding ceremonies – Theatre Square
21:00 concert Duo Malalata – Theatre Square
Sunday, September 12
10:00 World Cup – men
15:00 World Cup – women
17:10 Awarding ceremonies – Theatre Square
URoad closures to the smallest extent possible
CITY TRIATHLON Karlovy Vary is one of the largest and most prestigious sporting events in the Czech Republic, with this in mind it will require the necessary traffic restrictions. “In cooperation with the Municipality of Karlovy Vary, we have planned everything so that the closures take place for the shortest necessary time and thus limit the lives of citizens to the smallest extent possible,” says Vladimír Malý.
All closures, bypass routes and modifications of bus lines were prepared in agreement with the representatives of Karlovy Vary and the municipal police in order to ensure the safety of racers and visitors to the city.
When traveling around the city, you can use the Waze navigation app, which has been closed and is available for free in both Google Play store and app store.
“Many thanks in advance to the citizens of Karlovy Vary for their patience and understanding. On behalf of the entire organizing team, I can promise that we will try to ensure that the closures have the least impact on their weekend plans. And we will be very happy if all of us enjoy the biggest triathlon race in Czechia together,“ says Vladimír Malý.
Take the advantage of our shuttle buses
A special bus service will be provided between the Rolava leisure area, where the start of the race will take place, and the Theatre Square, where the finish area will be located, so that the spectators can enjoy the race as much as possible. Part of this route will be the Imperial cable car (funicular), which will take spectators from the Theatre Square to Imperial Hotel Street, from where a special shuttle bus to Rolava Lake will continue.
Bus departures from Rolava
Saturda: 9:20, 14:00, 17:30
Sunday: 10:30, 10:40, 15:25, 15:35
Funicular/ Cable car departures from the Theatre Square
Saturda: 7:20, 9:45, 12:00, 13:00, 16:15
Sunday: 7:45, 8:45, 9:30, 12:15, 12:45, 13:15, 13:45, 14:15
The stop on Theatre Square is on the corner between the old Savings Bank and the Hotel Olympia – Cable Car, which then connects to the bus. These times are always the times of shuttle bus departure from the given stop. Driving time is about 20 minutes.
Road closures and restrictions
Divadelní náměstí:
pátek 10. září od 8:00 – pondělí 13. září do 02:00: Uzavírka hlavního prostoru náměstí. Autobusy MHD nezajíždějí na Divadelní náměstí – zastávka přesunuta k Lázním I, nebude možné parkovat nikde na Divadelním náměstí. Zachován průjezd po „prstenci“ kolem parku – Divadelní ulice – Vřídelní ulice.
Kompletní uzavírka Divadelního náměstí včetně „prstence“ v časech:
– sobota: 11. září od 14:00 do 20:00
– neděle: 12. září od 9:45 do 12:45 a od 14:45 do 17:30
Mariánskolázeňská (od budovy Lázní I.) Nová louka: V ulici Nová Louka nebude možné parkovat 11. září od 08:00 do 12. září do 24:00
Friday, September 10:
from 12:45 to 15:45 road closure in the following streets Mlýnská, Třeboňská and cyklostezky kolem Rolandvy nand sídlišti Čandnkovská.
Saturday, September 11:
14:30-15:30 and 17:00-18:00 road closure in the following streets: Třeboňská → Mlýnská → Čankovská → Hraniční → Rosnická → Merklínská → Sedlecká → Jáchymovská → Nákladní → U Spořitelny → Ostrovský most → nábřeží Osvobození
14:45-16:30 and 17:15-19:00 road closure in the following streets: most 17. listopadu → I.P.Pavlova→ Karla IV. → Vřídelní → Divadelní náměstí → Tržiště → Zámecký vrch → Petra Velikého → Křižíkova → Krále Jiřího → Dr. Davida Bechera (část) → T.G. Masaryka → nábřeží Osvobození
15:00-20:00 road closure in the following streets: Mariánskolázeňská (above the crossroads Spa I) → Goethova stezka
Sunday, September 12:
9:45-10:40 and 14:45-15:40 road closure in the following streets: Třeboňská → Mlýnská → Čankovská → Hraniční → Rosnická → Merklínská → Sedlecká → Jáchymovská → Nákladní → U Spořitelny → Ostrovský most → nábřeží Osvobození
9:45-11:45 and 14:45-16:45 road closure in the following streets: most 17. listopadu → I.P.Pavlova→ Karla IV. → Vřídelní → Divadelní náměstí → Tržiště → Zámecký vrch → Petra Velikého → Křižíkova → Krále Jiřího → Dr. Davida Bechera (část) → T.G. Masaryka → nábřeží Osvobození
11:00-12:45 and 16:00-17:45 road closure in the following streets: Tržiště → Lázeňská → Mlýnské nábřeží → Zahradní → Sadová
