Schmid finishes 18th at Czech Tour

The races summarized
The Czech Tour started with a 18.6 kilometers long Team Time Trial around the city of Uničov. For Leopard Pro Cycling the start was unfortunate, since the team lost Patrick Haller after 3 kilometers because of a flat tire. With only six riders remaining, the team positioned themselves in eleventh position, just over one minute down of stage winner Mitchelton-Scott.

Leopard was not quite involved in the proceedings on the second day of the tour, as a three-man breakaway tried to suprise the bunch. This group was not able to do so and it was Jordi Meeus who took the win. The Belgian was also the stage winner on day three, a day where Leopard's Filip Maciejuk was active. When a breakaway was formed, Filip took this chance and after chasing for a bit, he bridged to the front. Unfortunately the bunch had again all in control, and the attackers simply did not stand a chance to fight for the victory.

With one stage left, all was still to play for, with the Leopard team leader still on a respectable position in the GC. In this stage from Mohelnice to Šternberk the battle was on big time, with also Szymon Rekita amongst the attackers. The many difficult climbs en route caused the bunch to split into small groups, the first one only about 25 to 30 riders strong. In the end, Mitchelton-Scott's Damien Howson claimed the stage and overall victory, with Leopard's Mauro Schmid finishing in an amazing sixth place. This meant that the Swiss rider was able to conclude the Czech Tour in 18th position.

Result Czech Tour (UCI 2.1)
1. Damien Howson – Mitchelton-Scott
18. Mauro Schmid (SUI) + 1'25"
26. Jan Maas (NED) + 2'44"
40. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (DEN) + 4'31"
45. Szymon Rekita (POL) + 5'14"
87. Patrick Haller (GER) + 41’11”
DNF. Filip Maciejuk (POL) & Arthur Kluckers (LUX)

Next race?
12-16.08 | Tour Bitwa Warszawska (UCI 2.2) | Poland

Photographer
(c) Jenifer Rosess & Cycling.photography