Lidl-Trek’s Mathias Vacek had been a continuing all through this 12 months’s Giro d’Italia thus far, and appears set to be a star of the long run after taking part in a key position for race chief Mads Pedersen all through the Albanian Grande Partenza and the primary day on Italian roads.
Vacek, nonetheless simply 22, leads the most effective younger rider classification 4 days into the motion, with top-tier positioning and lead-outs for Pedersen, alongside a robust stage 2 time trial, leaving him third total. He should not be too unknown, given his exploits ultimately 12 months’s Vuelta a España – the place he completed second twice on levels 1 and seven on Grand Tour debut – however his versatility has put him effectively into the main target of the biking world.
He is a peaceful and quiet particular person in dialog, utterly contrasting along with his energy and depth on the bike, an influence that his teammates say he does not even know the restrict of, with the Czech having greater than discovered his place as a jack-of-all-trades domestique with Lidl-Trek for the second.
“He is an excellent good rider. I do not suppose he realises how exhausting he can journey a motorcycle, it amazes me each day,” mentioned Thibau Nys to Cyclingnews when requested about his Czech teammate again in January.
“I at all times have the sensation that he can simply get away from bed and push 500 watts for ages, that is the kind of rider he’s. He’s additionally at all times there to assist the workforce, and you’ll belief him.”
The traits Nys spoke of have been on present all through the 2025 Giro, with large 1200-watt energy being recorded in his lead-outs, and a selfless position being performed out so completely by Vacek, that Pedersen vowed after his second stage win to assist pay him again with a maiden GT stage win.
“Vacek is totally wonderful. This child right here has such an enormous future forward of him, and he is proven many times what he is ready to do,” mentioned Pedersen after profitable stage 3.
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“However we additionally should be careful that we’re not placing an excessive amount of on this man, as a result of he can win plenty of bike races too.
“I let you know guys I’ll do completely every part doable to make him have a stage win on this race, as a result of he deserves it as effectively. He is a machine, and I am so happy with with the ability to have one of these man driving with me as a result of he makes an enormous distinction.”
A shock WorldTour win, cross-country snowboarding and discovering his ft at Lidl-Trek
The Czech rider had his WorldTour breakthrough three years in the past on the UAE Tour, the place he gained a dash stage from the break whereas racing for the previous Gazprom-RusVelo workforce, who have been formally suspended following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Following this, he discovered his approach into biking’s prime division in August of the identical 12 months and has solely gone on to refine his abilities, studying from the likes of Pedersen, a former world champion and one of many peloton’s prime riders, alongside the best way.
“I am actually studying from him now, so the plan is to be nearly as good as him within the Classics and nonetheless come to the Grand Excursions and win levels like him,” Vacek advised Cyclingnews and Daniel Benson’s Substack earlier than stage 4 in Alberobello.
“I might see myself slightly bit like him, however there’s nonetheless an extended solution to go. For now, every part is heading in the right direction, and I am pleased with how it’s.
“[Pedersen is] an actual chief, and the most important issues I’ve realized from him are how one can deal with conditions, how one can deal with a workforce, how one can be as calm as doable, and focus full gasoline on the efficiency and races.”
Vacek is a remarkably totally different rider from who he was when he gained that UAE stage in 2022, with Lidl-Trek aiding his growth from a former dual-sport expertise in cross-country snowboarding and biking to one of many hottest prospects within the latter.
“I used to be doing each once I was youthful however ultimately, if you wish to be the most effective in sports activities, then you need to deal with one factor, and biking was the best way to go,” mentioned Vacek of his former high-level racing days on the snow, making the total change to biking in 2020 after turning into the junior European time trial champion.
“After the UAE win, it was fairly an enormous growth for me, as a result of once I entered the professional peloton, the WorldTour, it was an enormous change for me, and I used to be battling how one can get into it and handle myself or put together for races.
“However now with Lidl-Trek I am actually supported and have what I would like. I believe we’re actually heading in the right direction for the long run, which is one thing I am trying ahead to.”
That quick future will take the type of attempting to win a primary Grand Tour stage on the Giro, with the loyal assist of Pedersen and others, and will come on the punchy ultimate in Matera on stage 5, or the gravel day into Siena on stage 9.
“I am actually pleased with the efficiency I’ve now, and every part goes actually, rather well thus far. I am feeling good, so most likely I can even have an opportunity within the subsequent few days to go for a stage,” mentioned the Czech rider on Tuesday.
“We’ll see the way it goes, what the plan will probably be, however for certain, additionally with this workforce, we are able to go along with a decreased bunch, put guys below strain and win from a small group.”
Having had what was meant to be an ideal Classics season derailed by illness, Vacek was effectively away from the potential he confirmed at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as he tried to assist Pedersen within the cobbled marketing campaign, nonetheless, he was absolutely refreshed forward of the Giro and in search of that maiden success in a three-weeker.
“I recovered at house from the Classics, and I really feel fairly prepared. In fact, the Classics season was a bit unfortunate with the illness and crashes I had, however this belongs to biking,” Vacek advised Cyclingnews on the eve of the race in Tirana.
“Now I am right here, standing once more in actually fine condition. We’ll see what the Giro will carry, however it must be an excellent Giro for me.
“I’ll give all of it within the TTs, which I am aiming for, in order that’s the place I need to take at the least a second place like within the Vuelta final 12 months,” he laughed. “Will probably be exhausting to win, however I’ll strive. A stage win, in fact, can be phenomenal.”
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