Sports News

In Sports News this Monday: Roman Kreuziger becomes the first Czech ever to finish in the top ten in cycling’s Tour de France; Slavia and Sparta, the two main contenders for the Czech football league title, draw their opening games – not the best preparation for Champions League qualifiers this week; Pavel Nedvěd says his career is definitely over, at least as far as Europe is concerned; and Tomáš Fučík set a new Czech record in the 100 m backstroke in Rome.

Mission accomplished as Kreuziger, 23, breaks into top ten in Tour de France

Roman Kreuziger, photo: CTK

Roman Kreuziger has become the first Czech ever to finish in the top ten in cycling’s premier stage-race, the Tour de France. Indeed, after coming 12th last year, he had set himself the specific target of breaking into the top 10, a target he had looked like missing. But Kreuziger managed to make up ground on the penultimate stage, the gruelling and windy Mont Ventoux, where he finished seventh and moved up to ninth overall. The man from Moravská Třebová held on to that position in Sunday’s final stage, finishing the Tour de France ninth. Though Roman Kreuziger is only 23 and is tipped to achieve a lot more, he is already being regarded as probably the greatest Czech cyclist ever.

Sparta and Slavia draw opening league games of season

Slavia Prague - Mladá Boleslav, photo: CTK

The Czech football league kicked off at the weekend, with Teplice playing host to Sparta Prague in Friday’s opening game, which ended 0:0. Slavia Prague came from behind to draw 1:1 at home with Mladá Boleslav, though things could have gone even worse for the reigning champions if a late Boleslav strike hadn’t hit the woodwork. Among the other results in round one, Baník Ostrava beat Příbram 2:1 at home, while Slovan Liberec drew 1:1 with Kladno in Liberec.

On Tuesday Sparta host Panathinaikos in the first leg of their tie to reach the Champions League group stage. The next night Slavia are in action in the same competition, away to Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova.

Nedvěd: retirement decision is final, at least as regards Europe

Pavel Nedvěd’s future remains unclear, though he has ruled out playing in Europe again. Speaking as a special guest on Sunday at a cup game between his first club Dukla and Radotín, Nedvěd told journalists he had just been on holiday in the US and had a number of offers to join a Major League Soccer club. However, the midfielder, who turns 37 in a month’s time, said it was unlikely he would decide to accept any of them. Nedvěd, one of only two Czechs to have been named European player of the year, made his final appearance for Juventus at the end of last season.

Fučík sets new Czech 100 m backstroke record at Rome swimming worlds

Tomáš Fučík set a new Czech record in the 100 m backstroke at the world swimming championships in Rome on Monday morning. He knocked 44 hundredths of a second off his own record from last year, setting a new national best of 56.10 seconds. However, that wasn’t good enough to earn Fučík a place in the final in Rome.