'It's a dream for every rider' – team masseur races World Championships in remarkable last-minute call-up
Vladimír Kováčik lasted 100km in the men's elite road race before he was dropped
An unlikely hero emerged from the ranks of the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada. Vladimír Kováčik, a team masseur with no UCI points and no recent racing experience, was called upon to represent Slovakia in the elite men’s road race. Despite having last raced nearly a decade ago, Kováčik started alone for Slovakia, as the other hopefuls either dropped out due to injury or prior commitments.
The 28-year-old had a brief stint racing in 2017, but failed to finish. Kováčik’s participation was crucial, as Slovakia’s rankings could have been affected if they did not field a rider, potentially impacting their Olympic qualification for 2028. He managed to hold pace with the peloton for over 100km before being dropped near the finish line, just 168km from the end.
Kováčik expressed his disbelief at being selected for the race, describing it as a dream come true for any rider, despite his unusual background. The UCI champion of the race was ultimately won by the USA’s Brandon McNulty, who soloed from a front group with 33km remaining.
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