With the microphone to meet Leopold König
Every Czech cycling fan is familiar with the name König. He is the only Czech cyclist who has managed to secure a top ten finish in the Tour de France, Giro, and Vuelta. We all eagerly anticipated the development of his promising career. When he made the move from the English team Sky, where he learned from the best, to the German team Bora, we were excited to see him on the podium of at least one of the three-week stage races. However, his health issues intervened, and Leo's performance declined.
A few years later, he resurfaced, but not as a rider. He transitioned into the role of a director and organizer of road races. He became the director of the Course de la Paix under the age of 23 (also known as the Jeseníky Grand Prix) and the Czech Tour, which he won twice. But true to his nature, König aimed for the top once again. He decided to elevate the already high-quality Sazka Tour to the UCI category 1. PRO level. What does this mean for spectators? More WorldTour teams, increased international media attention, and top riders participating. One of those riders who may soon conquer the climb up the Dlouhé stráně in the Jeseníky Mountains is Chris Froom.
However, Leo wasn't the first König cyclist we encountered in person at Posedla. The first was Gabriel, Leopold's brother. We met through the Hardware Accelerator at PrusaLab, which we won as a startup. At that time, wealready attempted to record an episode of the Life in the Saddle podcast. The interview finally took place two years later, coinciding with the rebranding of the Sazka Tour as the Czech Tour. We met at the studio in Prague, where Leo not only outlined his plans for the Czech Tour but also delved into broader social topics such as cyclist education, the role of sports in life, and the Czech education system.
What the Czech Tour has to offer
"We offer excellent quality hotels in Olomouc, short transfers to the stages, and all these details provide a complete package that ensures the teams feel comfortable with us. And the cherry on top is the Pilsner for 45 CZK."
On the declining number of new talents
"It's a societal development that doesn't fully support the sport. There are numerous other activities competing for attention, such as virtual reality and social networks. There are so many distractions. Additionally, parents often lack the financial means to support their children fully. In general, the trend is moving in the wrong direction."
About overly ambitious parents
"I appeal to all parents: don't push your children to compete with others. A parent should be there for their child and have no expectations. It's a problem prevalent in all sports, where we see parents exerting influence on their children's performances. I dare say that in 99% of cases, it has a negative impact."
On the role of sports in life
"School prepares children for a normal life, while sports and arts allow them to extract the maximum potential and learn as much as possible. That's the path everyone should take."
"For me, it was never a question of whether I would return to the Czech Republic. The more I experienced abroad, the more I grew to appreciate my home country, and I couldn't remain indifferent without expressing my opinions on complex social issues."
Leo also shared that he isn't particularly fascinated by trends in cycling technology. Even when he received his first racing bike from his dad, he didn't understand why other racers would come to observe it. That's why we were thrilled when he showed interest in Joyseat. To find out what else intrigued us, tune in to the Life in the Saddle podcast.
A few years later, he resurfaced, but not as a rider. He transitioned into the role of a director and organizer of road races. He became the director of the Course de la Paix under the age of 23 (also known as the Jeseníky Grand Prix) and the Czech Tour, which he won twice. But true to his nature, König aimed for the top once again. He decided to elevate the already high-quality Sazka Tour to the UCI category 1. PRO level. What does this mean for spectators? More WorldTour teams, increased international media attention, and top riders participating. One of those riders who may soon conquer the climb up the Dlouhé stráně in the Jeseníky Mountains is Chris Froom.
However, Leo wasn't the first König cyclist we encountered in person at Posedla. The first was Gabriel, Leopold's brother. We met through the Hardware Accelerator at PrusaLab, which we won as a startup. At that time, wealready attempted to record an episode of the Life in the Saddle podcast. The interview finally took place two years later, coinciding with the rebranding of the Sazka Tour as the Czech Tour. We met at the studio in Prague, where Leo not only outlined his plans for the Czech Tour but also delved into broader social topics such as cyclist education, the role of sports in life, and the Czech education system.
What the Czech Tour has to offer
"We offer excellent quality hotels in Olomouc, short transfers to the stages, and all these details provide a complete package that ensures the teams feel comfortable with us. And the cherry on top is the Pilsner for 45 CZK."
On the declining number of new talents
"It's a societal development that doesn't fully support the sport. There are numerous other activities competing for attention, such as virtual reality and social networks. There are so many distractions. Additionally, parents often lack the financial means to support their children fully. In general, the trend is moving in the wrong direction."
About overly ambitious parents
"I appeal to all parents: don't push your children to compete with others. A parent should be there for their child and have no expectations. It's a problem prevalent in all sports, where we see parents exerting influence on their children's performances. I dare say that in 99% of cases, it has a negative impact."
On the role of sports in life
"School prepares children for a normal life, while sports and arts allow them to extract the maximum potential and learn as much as possible. That's the path everyone should take."
"For me, it was never a question of whether I would return to the Czech Republic. The more I experienced abroad, the more I grew to appreciate my home country, and I couldn't remain indifferent without expressing my opinions on complex social issues."
Leo also shared that he isn't particularly fascinated by trends in cycling technology. Even when he received his first racing bike from his dad, he didn't understand why other racers would come to observe it. That's why we were thrilled when he showed interest in Joyseat. To find out what else intrigued us, tune in to the Life in the Saddle podcast.