Next rider up: Kryštof Král
Next rider up: Kryštof Král
The 18-year-old picked up back-to-back wins last week and is an outside favourite for the junior Euros
Hey Subscribers,
When a rider from the junior ranks pops up with back-to-back wins you need to sit up and pay attention, and that’s exactly what happened last week when 18-year-old Kryštof Král (Team GRENKE-Auto Eder) claimed the opening two stages of the Grand Prix Rüebliland in Switzerland.
Describing himself as a punchy sprinter who can climb, Kryštof has been picking up results all season, finishing fourth in the Junior Tour of Flanders, and being part of a team win at the Gran Premio Eccellenze Valli del Soligo in Italy.
His path into cycling was built on full dedication, talent and a smidge of luck, and this weekend he’s a dark horse for the European Championship road race, with the full backing of the Czech national team. This morning we caught up with Král as part of our ‘Next Rider Up’ series.
The ‘Next Rider Up’ series focuses on young and exciting talent that has come through the ranks in Europe and the US and is on the cusp of turning pro.
Daniel Benson: Hi Kryštof, thanks for taking the time to talk. I know you have training this morning but how is everything gearing up for Saturday’s road race in Belgium?
Kryštof Král: We’re at the circuit now and we’re set for the race tomorrow. The Czech team arrived on Monday and the atmosphere is really positive. We’ve had a few days of training on the circuit together and the morale is strong too. To be honest, we’ve just tried to spend as much time as possible together before Saturday’s race and create the best atmosphere possible. We all know each other really well so it’s just been about creating a good bond and making sure that we’re ready.
DB: And the form is moving in the right direction too. You’ve won two races recently, which must be great for your confidence.
KK: The form is there and I’ve started to feel good again after a few difficult months. Now it’s all about the racing and trying to give everything in the road race tomorrow, and probably at the Worlds the week after, although we’re still waiting for the team to be announced. I’ve been sick for a lot of this season but recently I came back and I was super happy with the wins in Grand Prix Rüebliland. It was my last race of the season with Team GRENKE-Auto Eder, so that was a nice way to go out. To win two stages was unbelievable. The first win was perfect for me with the uphill sprint, and then I had the yellow jersey for a day and I was able to take that momentum into the next day and win again in the bunch sprint.
DB: Can you elaborate on the illness that you had? You’ve had good results at certain points in the year, so there have been some highlights but has there been an underlying issue?
KK: I was feeling tired almost the entire season and we didn’t know what was up but a month ago we found that I had Epstein–Barr virus. I’d been dealing with it for the season but the blood tests showed it and then we just had to make the right decisions, which meant a lot of resting. The next set of tests came back and I was cleared to train again and now I’ve won two races, so everything is back on track.
DB: You’ve still had some good results, for example, that fourth in Flanders.
KK: Sometimes you feel good for a week but then after a few days you feel terrible, your body feels like death for ages and you’re not even able to walk. I was really pushing through and the legs were always okay but my body just couldn’t keep up. It meant that my main aim was to come back as healthy as possible and in the right way, without rushing and making sure that I was back to the right level.
DB: For those who don’t know and want to know more, how would you describe yourself as a rider?
KK: I’m a punchy sprinter and I can climb well. Because I’m lightweight I’m naturally good at sprinting uphill and I like races that have some climbs before the sprint too. I’m a punchy sprinter, I’d say. So at Euros, we have a few steep and short climbs that will be good for me. There are some cobbles too. It might be hard to get rid of some of the heavier boys but the race is going to be hard with the conditions. The team is based around me 100 per cent and I’ve got their full support, so I’ll try and do my best for my teammates. I want to try and reward the team for their faith in me.
DB: How did you get into cycling?
KK: Actually it was my dad who put me on this path. He’s been my stepdad since I was three years old and he saw me on a bike for the first time. He used to ride and he saw some potential in me, and since then I’ve not been able to stop. I grew up watching cyclo-cross a lot in the winter, so I was on the bike the entire time and without my dad, I wouldn’t be cycling today. Growing up I had heroes like Zdeněk Štybar, and he’s a rider that I’ve always looked up to. He’s a big inspiration for sure.
DB How did you get a ride on the Team GRENKE - Auto Eder team?
KK: I had a decent U17 year on the domestic scene and together with my dad we thought about doing some power tests and files so that we could apply for teams online. We did that at home and then I sent them to Team GRENKE-Auto Eder because I didn’t want to miss out on a chance and I thought there was nothing to lose by backing myself. You have to try, right?
We had some calls and then in August of 2022 they called me and said that I’d not been selected but that I was the first reserve, so if anyone dropped out I’d have a chance to be on the team for 2023. At that point, I had to cross my fingers and in the end, I was super lucky because a rider decided not to sign and the team came to me and said I could join. It was proof that you have to back yourself. At the same time, I’ve been working with the Wasserman cycling agency since last year’s European Championships and I couldn’t be happier with them. They help me a lot and they’re super supportive with everything that I need.
DB: How would you assess the last two years?
KK: I think it’s been the nicest two years of my life because it’s taken me places all over the world that I’ve never been to. That’s because of the team, and they’re really professional. I’ve been on training camps with the WorldTour team, and I’ve learned so much in the last couple of seasons.
Now it’s about the Euros for me. The form and the morale are both in good places, so it’s just about having a bit of luck that you need for these Belgian-style races. If I’m in the best shape then I know that I can be up there. The Belgians and the Dutch are the teams to watch because they know the roads the best but it’s about knowing the wheels to follow and then having good legs and being smart.
I’m Daniel Benson and I’m the former Editor in Chief at Cyclingnews, GCN, and VeloNews. I’ve recently set up a Substack with the aim of delivering you regular news, interviews, rider transfers and race analysis. To subscribe to my Substack please drop your email in the box below, and to find out more about what I’m doing please click here.