The fourth edition of the cycling event L'Etape Slovakia by Tour de France, organized in the style of a stage from the famous Tour de France, attracted great interest not only from the public but also saw participation from well-known sports personalities.

A total of 1,243 participants registered, with 227 competing on Saturday in the hobby categories. There were 124 young riders at the start of the children's races, and 103 cyclists participated in the so-called Family Ride. In the main events, 942 competitors took part, with 481 starting the longer 112 km RACE course, and 461 cyclists completing the shorter 60 km RIDE route. These are once again record numbers, showing growth compared to 2023.

This growing interest highlights the importance of the event, which, in a similar format, takes place in 24 countries worldwide and is now the largest cycling event in Slovakia organized for amateur cyclists and the general public.

In addition to legendary Boston hockey defenseman Zdeno Chára, who once again competed in the Race discipline, stating he had unfinished business from last year, former Slovak professional footballer Marek Hamšík also took on the 60 km Ride course. Hamšík fulfilled his promise from last year, where he stated that he had found a passion for cycling and, as a fan of the Tour de France, would participate every year from now on.

Another notable sports personality was Ján Svorada, a former excellent Czechoslovak cyclist and three-time Tour de France stage winner, including the legendary final stage ending on the Champs-Elysées.

The finish of the long 112 km RACE was truly thrilling, much to the delight of spectators, as the winner was decided in a final sprint on the iconic Kamzík. Petr Fiala from the Integray L27 Cycling Team crossed the finish line first with a time of 2:58:41.2, just 0.08 seconds ahead of second-placed Ľubomír Murárik and one second ahead of third-placed Ján Andrej Cully.

The finish of the shorter RIDE route was much calmer, and winner Sebastián Pavlas from the COFEEDENT Cycling Team, with a time of 1:42:26.7, could afford a celebratory gesture as he crossed the finish line.

One of the organizer's main annual goals is to attract as many women as possible to the start. Among the significant innovations of the fourth L'Etape Slovakia by Tour de France were initiatives aimed at women, prepared in collaboration with event partner Dr. Max. The organizers created a women's "grupetto" on the shorter RIDE course, where women could ride together with the support of more experienced cyclists. They also prepared an attractive women's zone at the L'Etape Village in Eurovea and supported selected young Slovak female talents with free registration, who competed for the white jersey.

For example, Slovak Olympian Nora Jenčušová rode with the girls, eventually taking the white jersey from the long course and finishing second overall. The winner and last year’s champion was Denisa Slámová from Cyklotrenink, with a time of 3:09:33.8. The fastest on the short course was Natália Letková from CK Epic Dohňany, with a time of 1:51:14.5.

The event attracted not only the participants but also spectators. Despite the hot weather, L'Etape Village in Eurovea drew a large crowd, including passersby. Attendees could take souvenir photos at the event's photo wall, view an exhibition of original cycling jerseys from both local and world cycling stars, and jerseys from L'Etape events worldwide. There were also workshops, partner activities, and interesting items in the Tour de France Museum.

The course for Sunday’s events remained almost identical to 2023, allowing participants to again ride across the iconic Apollo and SNP bridges during a controlled start, enjoying the unique experience of passing through the early morning center of Bratislava.

"We highly appreciate that we were once again able to be part of this event as a partner for all cyclists in Slovakia and bring the atmosphere of this prestigious event to the country. As it has been for many years at the famous Tour de France, Škoda vehicles are now an integral part of the L'Etape peloton as well. We are very pleased that the race director and support vehicles, including the fully electric Enyaq Coupé and the new Superb and Kodiaq models, contributed to the smooth running of the race and the safety of cyclists. As the main partner of this great event, we are already looking forward to the next edition and encourage all cycling fans, whether hobbyists, professionals, or enthusiasts of road and mountain biking," said Jaroslav Hercog, Director of Škoda Auto Slovakia.

"Cycling and cycling routes are an important part of tourism and a significant factor in promoting this area in Slovakia. That’s why we were proud to partner with this event. Slovakia is connected by over 50 official routes and hundreds of cycle paths, and our country is internationally connected through three international cycling routes. Slovakia has much to offer cycling enthusiasts, making this topic crucial for tourism development," said Ivana Vala Magátová, General Director of SLOVAKIA TRAVEL.

An event of this scale requires thorough organization and a larger team. More than 250 people from the organizing team were involved in this year’s L'Etape Slovakia, working on the course, at the start and finish, and in the event's support areas. Additionally, the event was supported by 40 state police officers, 18 municipal police officers, 20 motorcycle units, and 8 mobile medical teams. This year, we had 3 neutral mechanical vehicles available for the riders in case of need, along with 2 fixed mechanical stations.

"We are thrilled—the entire cycling weekend had an amazing atmosphere, and the emotions of the riders as they finished on Kamzík were incredible. This year's innovations, which supported the start of women in the RIDE course, worked well. The start through early morning Bratislava and over the Apollo and SNP bridges was once again epic and left unforgettable memories for the participants. We deeply appreciate the huge turnout of riders, and it was great to see Marek Hamšík, Zdeno Chára, and cycling legend Ján Svorada actively participating again. Riding alongside them was certainly a highlight for everyone. We have many more ideas to improve and enhance the event, and we are already looking forward to the 5th edition, to which we invite you now. The 5th edition will take place on 24.08.2025, and registration will open in the coming weeks," said Jozef Pukalovič, Event Director.

Registration for the fifth L'Etape Slovakia, which will take place on 24.08.2025, will open on Tuesday, 15.10.2024. We are also preparing a special discount for participants who have been with us since the first edition and completed all events.

### FACTS FROM L’ETAPE SLOVAKIA BY TOUR DE FRANCE (2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024)