The day started very early, we left Budapest at 6am and arrived to Plzen a bit after 1pm, it was more then 600 kilometres. The race is situated in the outskirts of the city and there weren’t many signs that would have helped us to find the venue, the directions, provided by the hotel staff, proved to be useful, however. The accreditation centre was situated in a school building and two very kind organiser provided me with my press pass and the photographer’s bib. It stinks like hell, so apparently it hasn’t been washed since Treviso.
Technicians install the photo-finish thingy.
Zdenek Stybar arrives in style – it felt like he’s playing for Real Madrid – a team famous for driving top-of-the-range Audis.
The first rider I saw on the course was Niels Albert. The reigning World Champion and the winner of the first World Cup race covered another few laps and then retreated to the team bus.
One of the tricky slopes. It would be all right in dry weather but it rained all day on and off, so the off-camber descent challenges the less skilful riders.
Sybar rides his first training lap.
Ceske Televisie
Unlike in Treviso, the depo area will play an important role tomorrow, due to the mud situation.
Treviso’s bronze guy, Klaas Vantournout tackles the only stairwell section on the course.
Robert Gavenda, the winner of the U23 race in Treviso.
Fellow Hungarian, Zoltan Tisza riding past the scene of the awards ceremony.
Zdenek Stybar exchanged thoughts with Belgian fans and UCI head honcho Peter Van Der Abeele.
It is quite likely that Pavla Havlikova would play an important role tomorrow in the absence of Katie Compton and the fact that she would be riding before home crowd is also on her side.
Warm up in the back of a van.
