In the end, Zdeněk Štybar did not finish the Olympic race
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You gave up the Olympic road race after 170 kilometers. What was the reason?
I felt great for a long time. Even while climbing Mount Fuji, I rode calmly in the main field. There were five kilometers to the top and I thought it was fine, because the final of the hill is not so brutal. And I had a plan in my head to try to jump into a group on the velodrome to be ahead of the final rough climb.
But you didn’t get to that at all. You already had a big shortage on the peloton when you entered the velodrome.
Because when he joined Fuji Ital Ciccone, he was driving at such a pace that I dropped out in thirty seconds. It showed how little I have at the feet of racing kilometers this year due to injuries, illnesses and heart surgery. Under normal circumstances, I would cross the hill.
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You have already experienced the Olympic Games in Rio. How were they compared to Tokyo?
The Japanese games were very special. Especially with regard to the events preceding the race. Due to Michal Schlegl’s positive test for covid-19, coach Konečný, mechanic and Michal Kukrle had to go into isolation. So I drove Thursday practice alone. The boys from England helped me Thomas, Hart … On Friday I went to the race for numbers, then confirm the application, have the clothes approved. With the help of our mechanic from Deceuninck Quick Step, who is here with the Belgians, I prepared the bike. And then he went to training.
This completed the anabasis with the preparation and did you have at least some time to rest?
No way. I had to take a car and drive a hundred pounds to the Olympic Village in Tokyo, so I packed up again. I had to take the bidons and prepare the necessary things not only for myself, but also for Michal Kukrle, if the hygienists let him into the plant on Saturday morning, which happened. It was an absolute uncertainty. I slept for maybe four hours. And in the morning he waited anxiously for the coach, the mechanic and Michal to be released from the isolation hotel.
Did the idea that you would be completely unsupported terrified you?
I also counted on an unfavorable variant and negotiated with the Danes, Belgians, Irish and Slovaks. We agreed to give bidons and trackboards to someone, and reserves to someone.
Lots of non-standard preparation for the race, which should be the biggest in life.
I made myself a leader and a mechanic. I was picking up our start numbers. Michal Kukrl and I called on Friday evening via an application on a computer, where I shared a screen for him and showed him the route.
From a stinky room and an ergometer to the best day of life on a bike
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How do you feel about leaving the second Olympic Games of your career?
In the case of cycling, it was a decoction. It was like a normal bike race. I met friends from other countries. I was already told in Rio that it was not a real Olympics in terms of the atmosphere. That’s why I was looking forward to Tokyo …
As one of the few Czech athletes, you could enjoy the Olympic performance in front of spectators, because several thousand of them gathered by the road and thousands more directly at the finish autodrome in Fuji, which belongs to another prefecture.
I was completely frightened. We left the park at the neutral start and I didn’t understand how many people were knocking on us by the road. Really incredible.
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The race for the Olympic medals offered a great spectacle
Christophe Some, ČTK / AP
Was it the most powerful experience associated with Tokyo?
No. This will be a flight from Frankfurt to Tokyo. Before I started, I saw various nationalities, representatives of various sports, all looking forward to the Olympic participation. For me, their enthusiasm was a picture of the real Olympics. In addition, we flew with tennis players Bára Krejčíková and Karolína Plíšková, so I at least partially enjoyed the atmosphere of the Czech team.
Olympic Paris will be in three years. So will you try the games one more time?
Yeah. So far, fate does not wish me. I do not know what’s happening. Perhaps the third of all good.
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