He could have become a world-class cross-country skier, but he chose a different endurance sport, where he is rapidly rising among the cycling stars.

Anyone who follows road cycling, even a little, will surely recognize the name of the promising Czech rider Mathias Vacek. The talent from Šumava, Czech Republic, shocked spectators at last year’s Vuelta, where he made his Grand Tour debut and immediately took two second-place finishes – first in the opening time trial and then in a sprint finish – proving that he’s not only a time trial specialist but a true all-rounder. What few people know is that he was once a major talent in cross-country skiing.

A Start on Skis

Mathias was born in Beroun on June 12, 2002. When he was five years old, his family moved to Austria, where he lived and studied for ten years. Besides his native Czech, he speaks fluent German, English, and Italian – a huge advantage for a professional cyclist riding for an international team. After returning from Austria, he lived with his parents in Stožec in the Šumava region, where he competed in cross-country skiing for the local Ski Club Šumava Vimperk.

He won several national titles in different age categories and took part in the Youth Olympic Games, where his best result was 4th place in the 10km classic. His final cross-country skiing result was a 1st place finish in the junior 10km classic at the Zlatá Lyže (Golden Ski) in Nové Město na Moravě in February 2020. He had also won the same event in freestyle a year earlier, proving that he was strong in both skiing techniques.

Vacek’s complete results from cross-country skiing can be found HERE

Turning Point

It was a road time trial in 2020 that marked the end of his skiing results. Just a few months after winning the Czech junior title in cross-country skiing, he won the European Championship time trial in the junior category. That result marked his farewell to the ski tracks. The excellent performance earned him a place in the prestigious Trek-Segafredo team (now Lidl-Trek), and two years ago he became a full member of the main squad.

Cycling in the Family

Mathias followed the path of his older brother Karel, who is two years his senior and also started out on skis before switching to cycling. Karel rode for several pro teams but announced this year that he was ending his road cycling career:

“It took me a while to come to terms with this decision, because a lot has happened in my life in recent months. I made this choice because I no longer saw my future in cycling. I gave it my all and always aimed for the highest goals. I achieved some of them, but certainly not all I had set for myself,” wrote Karel Vacek.

Let’s hope Mathias’s journey continues – and maybe their younger brother Bertil, three years younger, will also find success. The whole family has a strong connection to road cycling – perhaps even stronger than to cross-country skiing, which is more traditional in Šumava. Their father Karel was also a road cyclist.

Also Read: Full speed toward the stars – in the “wrong” sport

A True All-Rounder

Mathias is showing his versatility. He can excel in time trials, has the power for the classics, and handles hilly terrain well. In addition to the European junior time trial title in 2020, he also boasts a stage win in a WorldTour race (UAE Tour 2023), where he delivered a brilliant performance in tough crosswinds, defeating strong competition. It was a clear sign that he could compete at the highest level. Last season was a breakthrough for him.

Read More – Cycling for skiers: A valuable tool for summer training

A Fantastic Season Last Year

At the Tour of Norway in May, he claimed the white jersey and finished 4th overall. Two weeks later, he placed 2nd in the Tour of Belgium and again won the young rider classification. At the Czech National Championships, he became the time trial champion, and just three days later he finished 5th in the road race against a large squad from ATT and Elkov teams.

At the Paris Olympics, he matched the Czech time trial record with an 11th-place finish, just one-tenth of a second outside the top ten, tying the best-ever result of Leopold König. He also delivered a strong performance in the road race, finishing 14th, the best result ever by a Czech rider.

In his very first stage of his Grand Tour debut, he finished second – only two seconds behind American Brandon McNulty in the opening Vuelta time trial. He repeated the result in Stage 7, beaten in the sprint only by the legendary Belgian Wout van Aert. After the first three stages, he wore the white jersey for the best young rider. In the end, he finished 61st overall and 15th among the young riders in the three-week Spanish race.

What’s Next?

If Mathias Vacek avoids injuries or a loss of motivation, he could have a very promising future. With a solid foundation built in skiing, excellent endurance, and rapid development on the road, we’re likely to hear much more from him – not only in time trials but also in classics and stage races.

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