INTERVIEW: What does Petr Hampl expect from the season and how is he preparing?

“I still have the same motivation and I’m looking forward to every race.” In a new interview, we talked with the reigning national champion in the Masters category, Petr Hampl. How is he looking forward to the season, which races has he already completed, and how is he preparing? Peťa was, as always, brief and clear. A racer through and through. Reading the interview won’t take you half a day, but you’ll still learn everything important.

 

Hi Peťa, last season was like a dream for you; you won medals at both the national and world championships. Have those titles affected your motivation or your winter preparation?

Hi, I still have the same motivation and I’m looking forward to every race. In August, I’m expecting a child to be born, so I’ll be happy if they can join me on the podium.

 

How did your winter training and preparation for the season go?

Winter went well. I combined various sports. This year I rode more than ever before. The weather was favorable and it was doable.

Which sports did you combine? Do you also spend time on strength training and preparation in the gym, or do you only ride your bike?

This year I ran, hiked, and combined it with cycling. Occasionally, I trained core with bodyweight exercises.

 

In one of the past interviews, you mentioned a passion for ski mountaineering. Did you manage to get out there this year, even though the winter wasn’t very favorable?

Honestly, I didn’t go even once this year. The weather was better for cycling.

Up to what temperatures are you willing to ride, and when do you switch to other sports?

I have good clothing, so when it’s around 0°C, I head out. If it’s around -5°C or there’s a cold wind, I choose a different sport.

The season is slowly starting – how many races have you already completed, and how would you rate them so far?

So far, I’ve completed three mountain bike races. I was on the podium twice. I’m satisfied and looking forward to a nice road race.

 

I assume one of the podium races was the Sileska. Which was the other?

I completed a smaller race called Údolím Ohrozimy. Every year, the 25 km course has nearly 1,000 meters of elevation gain, which is quite challenging in itself.

Which race are you focusing on the most this year?

If time permits, I’d like to defend my national champion title and participate in the Road Classics. I’m also looking forward to the Beskyd Tour marathon.

Will you be doing any specialized preparation for that?

I’d like to go, as every year, with a group to the Italian Dolomites, where I really enjoy it. Otherwise, I’ll train here at home.

 

Can you briefly describe your weekly training routine? Do you ride based on distance or time?

It’s mostly about time. I work in the cycling industry, and since it’s now the season, I don’t have as much time for training as I’d like. During the week, I usually do shorter, faster sessions of 2–2.5 hours. On weekends, when I have time and there are no races, I train for about 3–4 hours.

How do you handle recovery during demanding training blocks?

At the moment, I’m not riding as much as I used to, so I don’t need a lot of recovery products. I typically use Pillar products at night or as a vitamin supplement. For races, I use SIS products – gels and bars, or an electrolyte drink. But honestly, the best electrolyte drink in the hot summer is a beer after training.

Which bikes will you be riding this year?

I’ve been riding the Airflow road bike and the Duke FS mountain bike for the second year. Now I’m looking forward to a new gravel bike, the Raw.

 

You’ve already seen and tested the new Raw. What do you consider the biggest change in the new models?

The new Raw is a fantastic bike, and it’s not even comparable to the older model. I’ve already raced over 10 races and covered thousands of kilometers on it (Peťa is not only our ambassador but also a tester. He’s been flying on the new gravel bike Raw for a while now.). The design and ride quality are comparable to the best global brands. The bike rides excellently, the colors turned out great, and I believe anyone who tries it will be thrilled. Raw is my favorite bike.

Do you have any special gadget that you put on every bike?

Not really a gadget, but I wouldn’t go out for training without my Garmin. If it’s not in Garmin and Strava, it’s like you didn’t ride.

Pells recently underwent a rebranding. What do you think about it? How do you feel about the new logo and colors?

At first, I didn’t like the new logo much, but combined with the colors, I gradually started to like it. The new Pells bikes have colors and equipment where everyone can find something they like. I really like the new Raw gravel bikes. I think everyone can find a setup and color they’ll like. The Razzers also turned out great, with a wide range of colors and setups.

Thanks a lot, and we wish you at least as successful a season as last year! Take care and ride on.

Thanks a lot. Bye.