Czech biathletes have concluded a major training block, spending three demanding weeks at altitude in northern Italy. The period saw a return to team training for Markéta Davidová following her back surgery, alongside the continued integration of emerging talents from the B team.

The Czech national A teams began their block in early June with a week in Livigno, located at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level. After that, the men’s and women’s squads split up, with the men heading to nearby Isolaccia and the women settling in Lenzerheide, Switzerland—home of the 2025 World Championships.

“Livigno gave us a solid start despite the rain,” said women’s coach Lukáš Dostál. “It was a bit of everything. We always start with volume training. Acclimatization is important— you can’t overdo it right away. The first week, we focused heavily on shooting. The shooting range in Livigno is tough; it gets quite windy in the afternoon, which we wanted to take advantage of. Then we moved to Lenzerheide, where we focused more on quality and comprehensive training sessions.”

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Return of a leader

The highlight of the training block was the return of Markéta Davidová, who joined the Czech team for the first time since undergoing surgery on a herniated disc in March.

“It was a successful camp for Makula,” said Dostál. “We’re still being cautious and consulting everything with specialists. In training, she, of course, had minor modifications, but it really looked good.”

Davidová’s presence is not only a boost to the team’s performance goals but also to its morale, given her leadership role and experience.

Youngblood and shared momentum

In addition to the core athletes, B team members Mikuláš Karlík and Kristýna Otcovská were once again invited to train with the A squad—a continuation of their involvement from earlier camps in Norway.

“The gap between the A and B team guys wasn’t that big last season,” said men’s coach Michael Málek. “Mikuláš showed interest in joining us because altitude training suits him, and the B team doesn’t have much of it planned. He’s working really well now.”

A similar case is Kristýna Otcovská. “She trained with us last year, and we wanted to allow her to continue the work she had started. We’re counting on her for future camps as well. She’s taking a one-year break from medical studies to fully focus on the sport,” explained Dostál.

The men split their training between two venues: Valdidentro, with its 30-lane shooting range, and Le Motte, which, despite having only eight lanes, features a technically demanding roller-ski track.

“Valdidentro has a 30-lane shooting range but no roller-ski track. In nearby Le Motte, the shooting range has only eight lanes, but it includes a roller-ski loop. It’s older, but it has a great profile,” said Málek. “So, we mixed it up and did the harder workouts in Le Motte. Sometimes, we’d shoot in Valdidentro, switch to classic roller skis, and head out for a session.”

Junior World Championship medalist Petr Hák also drew praise from the coaching staff. “He’s handling the training without any issues. He fits in well with the guys—probably closest to Adam,” noted Málek.

Health concerns and minor setbacks

While the majority of athletes completed the block in good condition, a few health issues emerged. Jessica Jislová is still recovering from illness and fatigue following the season.

“She was really fatigued after the season and then fell ill. With some minor limitations, she trained through almost everything, but she’s not at 100% yet,” said Dostál. “Now she needs rest and will undergo some medical exams.”

Among the men, minor setbacks affected Jonáš Mareček, who dealt with a cold, and Tomáš Mikyska, who was slowed by a tooth infection.

“Jonáš battled a cold for three or four days. We considered sending him home, but then it got better,” said Málek. “Tomča was slowed down by a tooth infection, but he’s already training according to plan.”

Despite the challenges, team spirit remained high.

“We stayed close to the venue, in the middle of the woods and meadows,” shared Dostál. “A herd of a hundred cows with bells around their necks wandered past us day and night. In the end, we got used to them, and it was actually quite nice.”

What’s next?

After three weeks on the road, both teams are now back home for a four-week period of individual training. The women will gather twice a week in Jablonec or Jilemnice for group sessions, while the men will meet twice in Nové Město na Moravě for shorter camps.

“Three weeks at camp is a long time, and we want to give the guys space to be with their families,” said Málek. “They’ll train individually now, and we’ll meet for shorter sessions later.”

“We visit the girls twice a week for comprehensive workouts. Otherwise, they train on their own,” added Dostál. “They know they need to work during the week, but they can enjoy some time with friends on the weekends.”

Both Czech teams are scheduled to return to Italy for another training block at Passo Lavazè at the end of July.

This article is based on a press release from the Czech Biathlon Association.

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