European Conti cycling blog (twitter: @EastCycl)

      Welcome to second half of my Czech Tour 2023 preview, where I am introducing the newest edition of biggest Czech cycling race. In case you’ve missed an earlier article, make sure to check it out! As for today, we will take a look on interesting names in a startlist. Men to watch Czech Tour 2021      Speaking of major stars, there is one above them all. Chris Froome recently raised bit of controversy when he claimed that team did not include him in Tour de France squad despite he felt ready. Now he has opportunity to perform on terrain that should suit him. Stage 3 is definitely on his radar, in his prime era he would destroy the opposition there. Climbs are hard enough to go solo if he will have legs as good, as some might expect after his recent statements.     Another member of older climbers generations is Rein Taaramäe. He has some good experience with Czech Tour, speciall thanks to his overall 3rd place in 2021 . Once again he...

       Welcome to my Czech Tour 2023 preview, where I will be introducing the newest edition of biggest Czech cycling race, which returned back to its original name, while Sazka still remains strategical partner. I have decided to split this up into two separate articles. First half of my preview, before we will get final rosters for most of the major teams at least, will focus on parcours and some other changes, while the second piece will introduce the favourites mostly.   Jumbo Visma dev team pulling in Šternberk, 2022      First major modification is date of the race. After always being set up in more or less half of the august each year, we will get late July action in 2023. That is a natural result of clash with the Glasgow world championships, where some riders who compete in Czech tour should be participating.         Opening stage is, according to last years tradition, once again set up between Prostějov and Uničo...