Things aren’t quite running as smoothly as we envisioned when we launched the series eight years ago. Nevertheless, we can be more than satisfied with this season.
A particular highlight was the third round in Puteaux, France. The venue alone, just outside the French capital of Paris, made the trip worthwhile. The event itself was also worthy of the competition series. The sports complex was perfectly suited for a World Cup, and the organization was a real treat. Valentine Rieb has established a stronghold in France with CSM Puteaux. With a relatively small team, she has created an environment for indoor cycling that gives us hope for a repeat performance. The numbers also speak in favor of a repeat. Eighteen nations came to France, more than at any other event in the World Cup series.
The other venues shouldn’t be forgotten. For the first round, we were back in Prague after many years. Jan Rasa managed to create excellent conditions in the hall in the Pankrac district.
Despite all the difficulties, we were able to travel to Langenselbold for the second round. With that, the series for 2025 was complete. It wasn’t just the summer heat that made spectators and athletes sweat. Lea-Victoria Styber and Nico Rödiger handled the dual role of athlete and organizer exceptionally well.
The final in Öschelbronn wasn’t just a sporting highlight. Had the World Championships not been so close by, the hall would have been bursting at the seams. With such a fantastic setting, the athletes’ performances were also at this level.
It’s sad for us that many athletes are retiring from competitive sports, but it’s also a good occasion. However, it’s good for them to be able to say goodbye in such a wonderful setting, feeling satisfied and happy.
Given that not all qualified athletes were able to take the necessary travel time and time off from school, university, and work a week after the World Championships, we can be thankful that, despite everything, many participants were willing to squeeze the final event into their busy schedules. Unfortunately, not all athletes are able to take more than two weeks off work or finance a journey of several thousand kilometers over two consecutive weekends. It should be noted that Hong Kong arrived for the World Championships on October 31st, and the finalists began their journey home on November 17th. The athletes from Hungary and the Czech Republic also deserve admiration for their dedication.
Looking ahead, we can also consider ourselves fortunate. We are finally able to plan all events calmly. All four rounds have been allocated. We only managed to achieve this during the initial launch and the long preparation phase. We have also found a solution for the finals, which we hope will provide the best possible conditions for all participants.