One reason for the merger is sponsorship conditions, an issue that has existed since Czech teams first entered the Ski Classics series. Another reason is the aim to improve the quality of athletes and results. While many teams face these challenges, the merger of two Czech teams is a notable surprise.

Beginnings, Closures, and Changes

Ski Classics was launched in the 2010/2011 season with just six races, including the Czech classic, Jizerská 50. The first Czech team was Patria Direct, with Stanislav Řezáč and Petr Novák. However, it disbanded two years later when Řezáč joined the Aukland brothers’ team, Xtra Personell, and Novák represented the newly formed Atlas Craft team (later known as Vltava Fund Ski Team starting in 2017/18).

In the winter of 2012/2013, the Silvini Madshus team, led by Marek Pazderský, joined the prestigious series. Initially focused on amateur racers, the team added two professional stars starting in the 2014/2015 season: Stanislav Řezáč, who returned from the Norwegian team, and Kateřina Smutná, who achieved frequent victories under the team’s banner. The following year, however, Smutná transferred to the Aukland team, renamed Santander, where she stayed for two seasons.

In 2015/2016, Lukáš Bauer’s team (later the eD system Bauer team) was formed, and Smutná joined in the 2017/2018 season. In the 2018/2019 season, another Czech team, Slavia Insurance, entered the scene with Stanislav Řezáč at the forefront. After the 2020/2021 season, Bauer’s team dissolved, and its main sponsor transferred to the eD system Silvini team.

This past spring, the strong Czech teams eD system Silvini and Vltava Fund Ski Team merged to form the eD system Vltava Fund team.

Also Read: Czech Pro Teams join forces

Why Not More Teams?

Big Czech names, and sometimes international ones, moved between teams, sparking speculation about how a united team might compete internationally, especially against Scandinavian rivals. Although there was often rivalry among Czech teams, the main obstacle was financial. When a team managed to secure a strong sponsor, the sponsor’s name would typically appear in the team name, which usually includes up to two title sponsors to support team operations.

This structure led to the creation and dissolution of several smaller teams that divided Czech athletes based on region. Skiers from northern Bohemia gravitated toward the Silvini Madshus team, Moravians to the Vltava Fund Ski Team, and Lukáš Bauer often sought talent abroad. Combining management and sponsorship seemed challenging in the Czech Republic and beyond, but for the first time, two leading Czech teams with extensive Ski Classics experience merged. A similar merger occurred this year with the Norwegian teams Kafebryggeriet and Team Driv, though the latter was not a top-tier team.

Read More – Team Kaffebryggeriet expands: Adds three new skiers and merges with Team Driv

A Sponsor’s Perspective: Daniel Gladiš on the Merger

Daniel Gladiš, a key figure in the former Vltava Fund Ski Team and founder of Vltava Fund, shared his thoughts.

Over the years, the Vltava Fund Ski Team became known as a Moravian team representing athletes who balanced work with winter racing. The team achieved several top 10 finishes in the Ski Classics standings and produced impressive individual performances.

“What I value most is the excellent camaraderie within the team and the shared enjoyment of participating in the Ski Classics series. Personally, it was an honor to be part of this environment. I was able to learn and, hopefully, help some Czech skiers in their careers. Without the hard work of the athletes and the dedication of the support team, the team would not have existed,” Gladiš said to Bezky.net.

The team survived 12 seasons largely thanks to the team’s leader, Josef Korhoň, but you’ve also been involved in seven of those seasons, and not just financially. The Aukland brothers’ team has been part of Ski Classics since the beginning, although they change their name roughly every three years. What kept you involved with Ski Classics, and did your motivation change over time?

“Pepa [Josef Korhoň] is the most crucial figure for the team’s operation as its director and founder, but he’s not alone. His work involves ensuring the organization of races, but other people are needed for administration, travel planning, and especially ski service. Anyone who hasn’t seen how hard the ski service crew works during each race—especially in testing and preparing skis—has no idea how much effort goes into every race. In recent years, TG Drives has provided significant financial support for the team.”

“My motivation has several roots. I love skiing; I also compete, and I have many friends on the team. I never felt a lack of motivation—in fact, it seemed to grow stronger. I also enjoyed negotiating with international racers about joining our team. Over the years, we had quite a few, and some of them were very skilled. It was interesting to see how they integrated into the team, how they trained, and how they raced.”

Why did you decide to merge with another team this year?

“We’ve discussed merging three Czech teams for several years. Previously, it always failed because of differing ideas, either in team management or sponsorship. This year, however, everything fell into place, and the two strongest Czech teams merged. The reality is that there aren’t enough local skiers to support three quality Czech teams in Ski Classics. There’s always the option to recruit international racers, which largely comes down to skill and money, but Czech ski racing successes are what excite us the most. So, it seemed logical not to dilute our strengths but to combine them. The new team will be stronger in all aspects—sports, service, and finance. We believe it will also enjoy strong fan support.”

As you approach your first season together, do you have any idea how the team will operate as a unit?

“Yes, we reached an agreement relatively quickly. The roster was mostly set, with just one or two positions to finalize. The sponsors also easily agreed on their contributions. The service teams have divided the events among themselves. One will handle some events, while for larger ones, like the Jizerská 50, both teams will work together. Now, we’re just waiting for everything to begin.”

In the next few days, you can look forward to the continuation of this article about the team merger, with insights from Marek Pazderský, head and founder of the Silvini Madshus team based in the Jizera Mountains.

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