The 26-year-old Czech finished third at the National ITT Championships, for his first podium of the year.
Petr Vakoč confirmed the solid form of past weeks and time trialled to a top 3 finish on Thursday afternoon at the National Championships, held this year in the Slovak town of Trnava, over a flat and non-technical 41km-long course which our rider completed in 52:17.
The result is even more remarkable considering that Petr wasn’t able to race in 2018, after being involved in an accident while training in South Africa, and made his comeback just five months ago, at the Vuelta a San Juan. Since then, he gradually built his form and played an important part in many of Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s successes, most recently at last month’s Hammer Stavanger, where after an entire day in the break, he helped the team seal the win in the Hammer Sprint.
“It was really hot out there, around 35 degrees. I started really well and after ten kilometers I had the fastest time and began thinking I could go for the win, but then I started to suffer due to the heat. I’ve never before suffered so much on the bike, and the last 20 kilometers were really terrible, but I tried to keep the power and gave everything. Both guys who finished ahead of me – Barta and Cerny – are strong time triallists and coming on the podium just behind them, and in these conditions, makes me happy and gives me a lot of confidence for Sunday’s road race”, said Petr after his fifth podium in as many participations at the National ITT Championships.
Photo credit: ©Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/ Getty Images