Stage 2 of the Peace Race took the peloton on a grueling 156 km journey from Uničov to Rýmařov, featuring 2163 vertical meters of climbing. Unlike the previous day, the riders were greeted by beautiful sunshine and calmer winds. The racing, however, remained relentlessly frantic. The opening climb forced immediate focus, requiring our riders to fight for position at the front. Our sports director noted that the daily strategy focused on marking short-lived breakaways and conserving energy for the final, punishing uphill finish. Around the 90 km mark, Máté Endrédi successfully mapped his way into a promising 15 to 20 man move, though the peloton refused to grant any freedom. The final descent was a white-knuckle affair, with the pack flying at full throttle on narrow roads before hitting the concluding 10 km drag.
Mads Landbo of Denmark secured his second consecutive victory in a chaotic finish, but the final 300 meters on a cobbled incline proved agonizing for TUS. Máté was perfectly positioned in the top 20, but a crash involving two Hagens Berman Jayco riders just 50 meters from the line forced him to a complete stop. He recovered to cross in 26th place. Earlier in the day, Máté had also avoided a scare at kilometer 40 when another crash forced him to a halt, though he chased back efficiently. Márkó Tóth missed the final split due to late positioning issues, finishing 51st, while Barnabás Vas and a recovering Rastko Nikačević finished safely in 60th and 62nd, respectively. Rastko showed immense grit, fighting through a severe flu while proudly wearing the national champion jersey of teammate Veljko Stojnić. Unfortunately, Csongor Kardos was forced to abandon the race due to illness. With no mechanical issues or punctures, the team enters tomorrow’s queen stage with Máté taking on the mantle of GC leader.
Máté’s leadership awakening
I felt good today and yesterday too. Because of my crash at the Tour de Hongrie, I had to take a four-day forced rest, then I trained for a few days, and that is how I arrived at this race. It was questionable what effect the time off would have on me, but fortunately, so far it seems like it was a good idea.
Today we had a hectic day, especially on the first climb where we had to pay close attention and stay in front. After that, although the attacks and the continuous tempo-driving came, a relative calm prevailed. Around 90 kilometers, I got into a quite promising-looking, 15-20 person breakaway, but unfortunately, they did not let anything go.
The last descent was very chaotic: we went flat out, very close to each other and at huge speed. This is dangerous anyway, but in this peloton, it was especially so. Despite this, I started the final 10 kilometers, which was a gentle climb, in a pretty good position. I managed to stay in front, and I started the sprint from around the 15-20th position. The finish was a cobbled climb about 300 meters long. I was in a very good position, but 50 meters before the finish, in one of the corners, they tangled up in front of me, so many riders got over me there.
It is absolutely visible that this is another league, especially due to the many national teams. There is no harmony, and to summarize it briefly: we just go flat out the whole way. You can feel that it is completely different from other races.
I am really looking forward to tomorrow’s third stage, because I have been longing for a mountain finish for a long time. I am curious to see how I will perform, but I am optimistic because my feelings are good. It gives extra motivation that for the first time in my life I received the leader role, so I can try to achieve the best result in the GC. I am very grateful to the team for turning to me with such trust, and I want to take this opportunity.
Rastko’s viral battle in borrowed colors
The last three days I was sick with the flu and a stuffy nose. Yesterday, I was feeling really bad, which is why I only just finished the first stage. Today, I felt a bit better, so I tried to fight until the end. I hope I will get better day by day.
I was really looking forward to this race because it is the only one left for the U23 category. I felt quite disappointed to not be in my best shape due to the illness, but now my goal is simply to finish the race: and if the good feelings return, to try for a strong result.
I am used to being around so many Hungarian riders, and it feels good: I feel very well accepted here.
It also feels really special to race in Veljko’s national champion jersey, and I am sad that I will not be able to keep it.
Photo: Marcell Lippai
