The best Czech track cyclist in recent years, Tomáš Bábek
tomasbabek.cz
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Bábek became the European champion again after four years. In 2016, keirin won in France. On Saturday he was seventh in his great discipline.
“I’m really happy with how it turned out, because the performance wasn’t perfect and I was quite disappointed after the keirin. I got a few blocks there in the semifinals yesterday, I appreciate that I didn’t fall, but of course it was disappointment and winning the ride of consolation was just a small patch. But such is the keirin, “Bábek told ČTK.
“I was hoping that it would work out today. But it was hard: the last day of the race, the fatigue for the whole championship is loading, moreover I didn’t sleep much because we went last night and I was pumped up, so there were only about five of them The performance was not completely ideal today, but I’m really happy about how it turned out. I take two medals and I’m very happy for them, “praised Bábek, who was a member of the team that won silver in Wednesday’s team. sprint.
It was the accumulated fatigue that probably played an important role today. “The biggest obstacle was probably that the qualifications and the next ride were about an hour and fifty minutes apart. I felt a chance, but there were two very good fighters who also started riding the kilometer. Fatigue escalated, but you get some cards and Fortunately for me, I wasn’t so tired, they were, “Bábek smiled.
Dráhařka Kaňkovská became the vice-champion of Europe in keirin
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The title of European champion drove the disappointment from Saturday out of the head of the seasoned runner. “A little yes, I have largely erased this disappointment with this gold. I like both disciplines – keirin and kilometer – very much. I wanted to win a medal here in at least one of them. And after Saturday one doubted a bit. “that I gave up one day, it was wasted and I may miss it today. But such an idea needs to be sent away again quickly,” Bábek said.
He values triumph no matter what the circumstances. “I thought it was really quite a goal when it came to the smaller competition, because there were the most people of all sprint disciplines per kilometer. Yes, several countries had a positive test or didn’t start out for fear of coronavirus. But I’m too I’m glad we were here, it’s just if, how would it turn out if someone was here … It’s a nice point for me and confirmation that it’s going in the right direction, even though we haven’t been able to prepare for Vienna in recent weeks. In addition, I tried what it is like to wave gloriously to the empty stands, “laughed Babek.
When considering the medal gain, the opinions of both coaches of the Czech team, Lukáš Thun (fighters) and Petr Klimeš (sprinters), also differed. Klimeš announced in advance that he would not overestimate success. “I know about it, but I think that Petr was moved today. He himself knows how difficult it is. And that it was during the coronation crisis, no one will ask about it. Next year is the Olympics, maybe even here. some of them didn’t have the top form, it’s hard to say. I certainly wouldn’t reduce the value of the medal at all. And I follow that every race counts, “said Bábek.
Although he is used to working on himself all the time, regardless of goals and conditions, he was pleased that the hard work in this strange season has borne some fruit. “I have it set in my way so that I do everything mainly for the trip and not for the next destination. But of course it’s nice to bring home the two medals, it’s such a icing on the cake and a little stone falls out of the heart that something such was successful, “said Bábek.
And what awaits him next? “Right after my return I have to take the test. I will take the positive things from Plovdiv, so I just hope that the test will be the first negative. Then I will take a few days off and devote myself to my family. Next year we will have the European Championships, Nations races The Cup and everything will go to the Olympics. I am optimistic and I believe that the Olympics will be in my beloved Japan, it’s just a question of under what conditions and circumstances, “said Bábek.
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