Race preparations

I arrived in Karlovy Vary just a week after the University World Championships in Gdańsk, where I finished 6th, and I was really happy with that result, especially since my running went well.

Karlovy Vary is the World Cup race with the toughest bike course on the circuit, and I’ve long felt that I needed to test myself on it. After checking out the course, I knew this was a completely different race from the others. It’s not only hilly but also extremely technical. You have to cycle on various surfaces. There’s two stepped speed bumps just at the base of the toughest climb, so you can’t even get any speed before the hill. The running course is also hilly, so there’s no mercy for the competitors. During the briefing, everyone asked me if it was my first time, and when I said, “yes,” they just gave me strange smiles… back there I didn’t know how much it will hurt.

I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, especially after my leg fracture in the spring, to try such a tough race. I didn’t know if I could handle it, but for some reason, I was drawn to it.

For the race, I taped my feet to prevent any blisters + I also had a special tape on my injured leg. Unfortunately, I only had a different brand of tape for my other foot, which wasn’t strong enough and came off during the warm-up. So, I didn’t have tape on my left foot during the race.

No more “On your mark…”

Our race was the first to introduce the new starting protocol. The key change is that there’s no longer an “On Your Mark” command. After we are called to the line, the starter says: “You are in the hands of the starter,” then there’s a heartbeat sound, followed by silence, and then the start horn. I actually really like this new start system.

It was a pontoon start, and the swim was without the wetsuits. Even the swim course was the most complicated I’ve ever done, with many turns, islands, and even a climb out of the water… Bianka set the pace high during the swim. She swam fantastically, as always. Five of us managed to break away during the swim. Transition went really well, and I was the first to get on my bike.

The real race started with biking

Maya attacked almost immediately after the swim, and I followed her without hesitation, whatever would happen. I wasn’t sure I could keep up, but I didn’t think about it for a second, as I had been waiting for this moment for so long. I was surprised that it was just the two of us; I expected the five of us to stay together. At first, I didn’t even notice it was only the two of us. I realized this would be even tougher than I had thought. I worried about the first big climb—would I be able to keep up with her? I got through it the first time, but there was still a lot (6x !!!) ahead. I was also concerned about my hydration since I lost my big water bottle just 2 km into the ride, leaving me with only 400 ml of electrolyte drink for the remaining 38 km. But then I remembered what my mom always says: never try to see the whole race at once, just focus on the next task. The next climb, the next turn, the next transition. I tried to do as much work as possible at the front too. Maya took the corners much better than I did, so I had to work hard to maintain the right pace ahead of or behind her. This was always how I imagined it—progressing through teamwork.

Lap by lap, we increased our lead over the pack. I could hardly believe it. Maya kept encouraging me, which was a huge motivation. After a while, I began to really enjoy it. My family was showing me the time gaps on a whiteboard. I wasn’t sure how much this brutal bike course and the pace with Maya would take out of me for the run, but I didn’t want to think about it. I was enjoying the ride.

We got off the bike with more than a 3-minute lead. I tried to start the run at a pace that felt good for me. I knew 10 km was a lot, and that excellent runners were coming up behind me. I was extremely thirsty, having lost my water bottle at the start of the bike ride. Unfortunately, the tape on one of my feet had come off during the warm-up, the tape I always use to prevent blisters. At the start of the second lap, I could feel the blisters forming. By the second and third laps, the pain from the blisters was severe. Of course, I was tired from the bike ride too, but I felt like I still had more to give in the run, but the blisters hurt more and more, preventing me from running at my maximum. It was obvious, as I didn’t collapse at the finish like I usually do. I had the strength to celebrate and stay on my feet. Unfortunately, this cost me a podium spot, but I was still incredibly happy because less than 3 months ago, I had a fractured leg and was emotionally shattered because of it. I arrived at swim and bike training with crutches. However, I couldn’t run for three months. Maybe some people didn’t understand why I was so happy, even though I missed the podium in the final 1km. But this 4th place meant 100 times more to me than most people realize.

Final thoughts

I have come to love Karlovy Vary. It is one of the most epic courses I have ever seen. The spectators and the atmosphere were simply fantastic.

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Disclaimer: Few of the photos above were taken by World Triathlon and they are the respectful owners.