Name: Vaclav Jezek
Nickname: Jeza [pron. ye: zha]
Date of Birth: 13th September 1977 in Mestec Kralove
Horoscope: Virgo
Height/Weight: 186 cm/75 kg
Eyes: green-brown coloured
Education: secondary professional branch cook-waiter
Family: wife Petra, sons Tomas (born 2002) and Vaclav (born 2005)
Place of Residence: Mlada Boleslav
Place of Origin: Dobsice, small village on The River Cidlina near Podebrady, district Nymburk, Central Bohemia
Profession: universal cyclist-professional with specialization on mountain biking (MTB), complementary cycling cross country, marginally also road cycling.
Firstly I was going with my father and my brother only for the joy. First races were the faulted point. They were after half of year and I began with cycling at that moment. Our parents led us to sport from a child, mainly to bike. We were cycling to holidays with tents on the carrier for things on the bike. It was great fun. Remodelled Favorit was my first bike. I was cleaning it all the time. We were competing with my brother, whose machine would be nicer. My father built me real race-bike after my first races. I remember only that it was black-red coloured and I may have been sleeping with it. I loved it although it was not expensive cycle. There was no excellent equipment. I would like to say by this example that when someone is beginning with cycling he immediately needn't to have the best bike.
Jiskra Kolin was my first team because I originate from Dobsice. It is small village 15 kilometres away from Kolin. There were no MTB races at that time. It was the reason why I specialized in cycling cross country races which were very popular - about 120 competitors started in each category, nowadays it is hardly a half.
I crossed from Jiskra Kolin to Top Ten Team Teplice where led me Petr Hejduk. They supplied me bike and jersey in Teplice. I changed for Pek Servis Kolin under leading of Mr.Lacina after one year. There I started with MTB - new discipline in our republic. There also came my first successes: I finished on the fifth place The Junior European MTB Championship in France in 1994 and I won my first title of Czech Junior champion a year after success in France. I got my first "cycling" salary at the end of the first season. I bought microwave oven and new TV set for my parents. I like remembering that time. There were no stresses and troubles with results of the races. Money was not the most important thing. I was cycling for the fun.
In 1997 I crossed to Author, the best MTB team in Czech Republic at that time. It was beginning of my professional career. I gained next two titles of Czech champion - one was on mountain bike and the second in cycling cross country (later specialization of my team).
I was in representation of both disciplines (MTB and also cycling cross country). MTB World Championship was at the beginning of cycling cross country season and cycling cross country World Championship was at the beginning of MTB season. I had not any free time and there was no time for regeneration. Those were the reasons why I had to decide for one main discipline. Cycling cross country has won because I was successful in category under 23 years and round the world at time of decision making.
I stayed for long 9 years in Author where I had good material and financial rear. Recently I have felt that I need a change. It was stereo plate and I began stagnate. I knew that universal training methods are not good enough for me. I needed individualization. I left Author Team in February 2005 but have continued to cycle on bikes of their mark till these days. I made understood with Martin Havlena (owner of Universe Agency that makes bikes Author) on material ensuring.
Now I am cycling in Top Team Teplice. I have my private sponsors and I am king only for myself. Trainings are constructed by me and my fitness coach and masseur Ruda Výborný who is regular brick.
What had I done before I started with races?
I am boy from village so I had done everything possible. It means tennis, football, ice-hockey, basketball. I spent 4 years playing football.
What would I do, if I did not earn by cycling?
It is difficult to say. I am a cook so I would cook somewhere. Certainly I would not lose because I am not afraid of work.
What would I like to do after finishing professional career?
I always wish I had own restaurant. But who does know?
Is the popularity felt? How do I undergo it?
There is no popularity. It may come after winning something important.
My most favourite meal, drink, film, music, type of women...
I love sweet meals - potato cones and noodles with poppy - drinking beer or water. I like old Czech films with actors Marvan, Plachta and Burian in TV set. My favourite singers are Karel Gott and Ivan Mladek. I do not care what I listen in the car on the road. I like CDs with The Theatre of Jara Cimrman too. The best girls are pink and white.
Which are my hobbies?
I like doing sports. I play tennis of badminton with friends. I was fishing earlier but there is not enough time now. I like walking with my family and my dog (good-natured Rhodesian ridgeback Bart). I also like gambolling with my sons.
Where was I fishing? Which were my draughts?
I was fishing on The River Jizera. I took the greatest pleasure in my first freshwater eel. I do not know the measures nor yet. What a pity that I have low for this hobby nowadays.
Do I have any talisman?
Yeah, it is chain let after my father that I am carrying in the car.
Do I have some rituals? Am I superstitious?
I do not blab out.
Which is the best advice that I have ever obtained?
Be self-trustful!
Which values do I recognized as the most important?
Health is certainly the most important. Then man needs good luck too. My father died because of an accident last year. He was healthy but the good luck left him in the fatal moment.
Which qualities do I esteem on other people?
I make reckoning of veracity, sincerity and reliability.
What make me angry?
The lie!
What am I preferably shopping?
I am shopping clothes and something for my sons in toys. I might buy "Kinder egg" mostly (chocolate egg with toy inside). We have agreement with my older son Tom that I bring him one "Kinder egg" from each race.
What am I preferably doing?
I take care of our small garden-plot.
My aims to the future...
I want to bring up children well and fairly and of course every time I want to win on the bike.
Will my children also cycling?
I do not know. I will not force them. When they want I give a boost to them.
Where did I meet my wife?
My future brother-in-law and good friend Standa Hejduk drove me to her in 1996. We were training together very often. Once he was training by me then I was training by him. And you know how these things finish... :-)
Which feature do I admire on my wife?
I wonder hers intelligence.
My best and my worst experience...
The best one is certainly nativity of my sons. I was assisting by the second childbirth and it was really wonderful experience. And the worst one was to see dead father.
Who did bring me to cycling? Why have I begun riding?
My father and my brother brought me to cycling. Father was an amateur racer. When my brother began I also enjoyed it.
My first great success...
I finished the fifth The Junior European MTB Championship in France in 1994.
When did I recognize that I could earn by cycling?
I told my father from beginning that it would be my job one day. I was convinced of it. I trusted it.
Who was my best coach in the career? What did he give me?
The first and for me the best coach was my father who do not live more. He was number one for me like the man too. Then it can be Mr.Lacina from Kolin. He gave me the discipline.
My injuries during career...
The car thrust me down during the training in junior age. It was my fault. I had to go with concussion of the brain and broken collarbone to hospital where I spent fortnight.
Have I ever wanted to give up cycling?
Many times, especially when I have to go during Christmas time to races. Who do like it? But it was always better after few days because I like bike so much.
What does my sport give and "steel" me?
The best thing which sport gave me is that I am able to follow my goal. It stole me weekends, holidays, Christmas, New Year's Eves...
My exemplars in cycling...
I do not have any. I marvel as most people things that reached Indurain, Armstrong and similar cyclists.
Who do I appreciate among cyclists?
I wonder all people who are cycling. It can be professional of hobby rider. It does not matter!
My worst experience connected with cycling...
I saw a death accident during the training. Then I feared no the bike for long time.
What would I advice to young riders (children)?
"Do it for the fun! Do not want immediately the best material from your parents! Take care about your bike and then you have better relationship to it."
Which is my attitude to spinning?
It is positive. I took part at few hours because my wife is an instructor of spinning. It can be good supplement of training. I like it.
My favourite complementary sports...
I like playing tennis and badminton with my friends and then go to the pub for a beer.
My favourite training courses and terrains...
It is The Czech Eden Area and The Giant Mountains. I like cycling there very much.
Am I afraid of Czech drivers during training?
I am but I try not to think about it. It is like a PC play but only with one life.
What do I think about MTB discipline "downhill"?
I tried it once but it can not be equated with nowadays downhill's. I wonder these guys. I would not go down more.
How do I like the race The Prague Stairs?
I like it very much - great course, atmosphere, place. I have ridden there ten times and I like to go there again.
My favourite conditions...
I like more difficult and slower cycling cross country tracks. It does not matter with MTB tracks. There is more important weather. I hate sultry heat and rain does not obstruct me on the contrary. Ideal weather for races is 10 degrees of Celsius and overcast with rain. Of course, I like good weather when I am not competing.
The lowest temperature in which I have competed...
It was minus 16 degrees of Celsius during The Cycling Cross Country World Championship in Poprad. My temperature was 38 degrees of Celsius - faugh!
Have you ever ridden the race that was shut down because of weather?
I think that no. Once I rode MTB race in heavy storm, it was pouring with rain, lightings were scampering around and water ran in streams. But it was nice because I won.
My favourite and obnoxious race or course...
I like course in Tabor in Czech Republic. But the best contests might be in Belgium where are thousands of spectators (10 000-15 000).
My best/worst season...
My best MTB season may have been in 1997 when I came to Author. The best cycling cross country season was 2000-2001 when I was successful home and also abroad.
Which race did I preferably think back on?
It was my first title of Junior Czech Champion v 1995.
My most piceous race...
It was the World Championship race in Poprad where health revealed me just before the race. It went there for the medal.
What do you think about relations among cyclist on the races? Are they friendly or unfriendly?
I think it depends on people. It does not matter if it is cycling or chess. I would tend to the opinion that the relations are friendly.
My best friend among foreigners...
There is no time to make a friend with someone in the rush of races. Man comes to race three hours before the start and have work only with himself (prepare the bike, view the course, make understood with mechanic). Man goes home just after the race.
My merits and weak points in cycling....
My merit is fitness. On the contrary I am sometimes too nervous before the race.
What do races on the road and MTB races signify for me as a cycling cross country rider?
It is necessary preparation for everyone on the road. I like MTB races. It is really difficult discipline. Only the best one wins every time.
Translated by Libor Kult
