Slovakia forced to start team masseur in elite Worlds road race to save UCI points

Vladimír Kováčik, a 28-year-old former rider who now works as a masseur with the Slovak national team, will take a start number in Montréal. His last competitive race came nine years ago.

Slovakia had earned four places for the elite men’s road race, but one by one those options disappeared.

Matthias Schwarzbacher withdrew through injury, while national champion Lukáš Kubiš was not released by Unibet Rose Rockets because of the team’s racing programme.

Martin Svrček, a two time medallist in the under 23 road race, had been included in the preliminary selection but was later ruled out by health problems. He missed Okolo Slovenska with tendon inflammation in his leg before contracting a virus. During the same period, he also became a father for the first time.

With entries having closed on 11 September, Slovakia had no possibility of calling up a late replacement.

But leaving the start line empty would have consequences beyond Sunday’s race.

Without a Slovak rider in the elite men’s road race, the country’s national championships would drop into the B category next season, reducing the number of UCI points available.

“For the national champion the drop is by half, and for the runner up by almost two thirds. We would be counting the losses in the hundreds,” national coach Jakub Vančo told Sportnet.

“Those points are equivalent to winning a WorldTour stage race, which is beyond us. So we have to fulfil our obligation to the UCI for someone to start. And next year is qualifying for the 2028 Olympics.”

Vančo made no attempt to disguise the nature of Kováčik’s appearance.

“Our participation will be purely formal. We will have representation in the form of a person who is here and who formally meets the conditions and holds the licence,” he said.

Slovakia has also had to improvise in the women’s race, although not to the same extent. Tereza Kurnická, who mainly competes in mountain biking, will replace the injured Nora Jenčušová in the elite women’s road race.

The unusual situation comes at the end of an otherwise successful week for Slovakia in the younger categories.

Viktória Chladoňová won the under 23 women’s road race on Thursday, beating Isabella Holmgren in a two rider sprint. She had already finished fourth in the time trial earlier in the week.

“I would like to thank Terka Kurnická and Vlado Kováčik for starting in the elite category,” Chladoňová said. “Their participation means we will not lose important points that we will need in future.”

Kubiš, who is due to race the Cholet Agglo Tour next, said he was frustrated to miss the World Championships but relieved that the federation had found a solution.

“I am very sorry that I cannot start on Sunday. On the other hand, I am glad the federation managed to find a way to save these important points, which could be crucial in the fight for places,” he said.