"I think I can build on this first stage" - another talented Czech youngster Pavel Bittner shows off sprinting legs with sixth place in Ourém
Cycling
There are two Grand Tour debutants from Czech republic at the Vuelta a Espana and both seem committed to prove they didn't arrive just to have a look around. While Mathias Vacek already kicked the door with 2nd place in the opening time trial. His compatriot, also 22-year-old Pavel Bittner had to wait one more stage for an opportunity to show his sprinting qualities with sixth place in Ourém.
"I think I did the best I could in the final. I got dropped off on the wheel of Groves and Martijn was there for me in the final. Chapeau to all the guys. Actually it was quite an easy day before we lit it up on the final climb," Bittner analyzes the stage.
Sadly, team dsm-firmenich PostNL leader for general classification, Max Poole was involved in a crash with 3 kilometers to go. That would be a very sad ending to Poole's Vuelta as the Brit only just recoved from a fractured elbow that side-lined him for half of the season. "There was also the crash and I hope Max is OK."
For Bittner, sixth place is more than pleasant Vuelta debut, however he hopes for even better result in upcoming stages. Maybe already in the third stage which should once again end in a bunch sprint. "For me, I think I can build on this first stage. Tomorrow, the final is a bit more sketchy and narrow, but there we can show our teamwork even better and we’ll see how it goes."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- From knowing past cycling stars with shops I can only say, think it through. Not only is it mundane after a while but it really doesn’t take you out of the limelight, in the end you’ll be trying to stay away from the place yourself whilst all your fans keep coming for you.Jumpyjohn15-11-2026
- Careful investment? I think he can live very comfortably with zero investments, what does he need more? The world would do well if more people set a target for how much they need or would make them “happy” and then stop worrying about perpetually having to make more.Jumpyjohn15-11-2026
- Yes, Roglic could theoretically have beaten Sepp. Jonas must have had complete confidence that he could come back and win the Vuelta another year. Visma had not allowed Roglic to ride the Tour that year, so his future did not look so bright, despite his narrow Giro win..Hills3315-11-2026
- So far, a good series about riders before my time, even if the text feels AI generated like so much on this site. About the rider, he seems like one of many who are active fan favorites but don’t survive in the stories of cycling, a few decades later - I didn’t really know anything about him and this was a good read, thank you!RidesHills15-11-2026
- A calm, honest documentary, a bit of hagiography but mostly not too much. When he talks about a coffee shop, it aligns with several things in his world - he might want calm, but he does (more than a little bit) have someone near him (his fiancee) who makes sure that things happen the way he expects. Many atheletes have retired only to find out just how much others were taking care of their lives for them. If they work out (I'm old, things happen), I am sure it will take a renegotiation, which is a good thing. I truly enjoyed watching it, seeing him, seeing her, seeing the whole system built around him.RidesHills15-11-2026
- You do? My mother grew up around Bleiburg (Pliberk), across the border in Austria . My grandparents lived close to the train station in Bleiburg, and I spent a lot of the 70s and 80s there. The "Jugo" train of my youth went to Dravograd or Maribor, exotic places (behind the wall) at the time. What a moment that was, the 10 days war of '91 - times sure have changed.RidesHills15-11-2026
- I hope he rides a bitmij15-11-2026
- Greatest athlete this world has ever produced ! LOL ... you definitely are a comdian ! Cycling is so sprecialized and you think he's the greatest athlete ever ! Still laughing !frieders315-11-2026
- b.s. headline. Jonas wasn't told anything, it is just a pundit telling him what to do. the actual article is not even close to the insinuation of the headline.mij15-11-2026
- I think Roglic could have beaten Sepp. not Jonas. I was referring to Sepp.mij15-11-2026
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💬 "I think I did the best I could in the final. I got dropped off on the wheel of Groves & Martijn was there for me in the final. Chapeau to all the guys." - Pavel Bittner Read more from the first sprint at #LaVuelta24 🇬🇧🔗 teamdsmfirmenich-postnl.com/vuelta-s2/ 🇳🇱🔗 teamdsmfirmenich-postnl.com/nl/vuelta-s2/
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