SLAVIA on the L’Étape: Iron Will and an Unplanned Marathon

The most difficult part was estimating the details and angles of the frame from the photos – the various experts Vladimír consulted all had different opinions. He created just about all of the bike himself – he welded and assembled the chromium-molybdenum pipes together, used a lathe to create the wooden handlebars, and made many other components. The preparation and construction of the bike took him three months, including the time his arm was in a cast. “There were six weeks when I could only use one arm. Luckily, that’s all I needed to control both the lathe and the miller,” says Vladimír with his admirable can-do attitude.

He adds that if the bicycle had been destined simply for a museum, it would have been ready much sooner, but he needed to be sure that this one would get him across the finish line. “I had to re-design the bike so it won’t fall into pieces along the way,” he laughs. The end result is& bsp;a bike that weighs 18 kilogrammes and – just like the original – has no brakes or derailleur. You can read more about how it was made here.

He spent much of the race using the same strategy, spending at least 40 km on foot next to his bicycle. So, besides his excellent cycling feat, he also ran nearly an entire marathon in the mountains. Despite Vladimír’s concerns about potential technical problems, the SLAVIA handled the whole race without a single malfunction. Want to learn about the differences between this historical replica and a contemporary state-of-the-art bicycle? Compare them here.

Besides the running, there were other difficulties Vladimír had to cope with: “When I reached the 80th kilometre, we arrived late so the refreshment station was already closed. I was saved by an energy bar that another rider had dropped earlier and I had originally picked up as a piece of litter I was going to throw away later. A few hours on, though, I gratefully promoted it from litter to snack and ate it. Beggars can’t be choosers,” laughs Vladimír.

The friendly atmosphere and the solidarity of the other L’Étape participants made u  for all of his hardships. There was the moment he rode through a pass with thousands of cheering fans and the time an onlooking Frenchman refilled his water bottle without batting an eye. The support of his family was also a major help: his wife and son kept him company on the last night-time section of the race and lit up his way with the headlights of the ŠKODA SUPERB support car. “You know, all these ‘human experiences’ probably mean more to me than the adrenalin from the race, the finish or the success,” Vladimír adds.

Andy Schleck, a former professional road cyclist, the 2010 Tour de France winner, the current Tour de Luxembourg chairman and a ŠKODA ambassador, commented on this incredible feat at this year’s Tour: “I have masses of respect for Vladimír because I wouldn’t be able to finish the L’Étape on a bike with one speed and a brake where you have to push the pedals backwards. Very impressive and a really cool story, I love it.”

Even though Vladimír finished last and long after the set limit, which usually means disqualification from the race, an honorary L’Étape medal was still deservedly awarded because such a heroic, unique, and strong-willed feat made the organisers turn a slightly blind eye to the rules.