I have undertook the physical sport testing at the end of November. The results were perfect.
Compared to last year, the results are much better which is great for the beginning of the season.
This year, the first training session in December was set for a place with warm weather.
Next year is an Olympic season so nothing should be underestimated and far too lengthy training in a bad weather is rather risky.
Therefore I have gone to Mallorca at the beginning of the December where is the ideal training condition.
I have been training on average 6 hours every day in 4 day block. I have been training mainly on hills, intensity was low.
I have gone training by myself or in a small group where was also Roman Kreuziger and other riders from the Czech republic.
Once even the legendary sprinter Erik Zabel have gone with us.

I shall relax a bit during the Christmas break. I am attending the local event 'Sportsman of the year 2011' this week.
At the end of the year, I will start the Cyclokros race in Leuven in Belgium.
The cyclokros season will be finished for me at the Championship of the Czech republic in Unicov.
Next plan is not finalised yet, however at the end of January latest i shall go to Mallorca or Gran Canaria for another training camp.
At the end of February I plan the first races in Cyprus or Spain.
The first World Cup race is on the 17th of March in South Arica - Pietermaritzburg. There I will be fighting for a victory.

Best regards
Jaroslav

One week after the race in Nove Mesto, where I confirmed my World Cup win, I had to do the last race in Val di Sole.

Into the race I came with clear head and also after some training for the World Championship which is heading into Champery.

Before the race I felt great, but I wanted to do the race in groupeto and save some power, even to win. All went perfect, at the beginning we run out the group with Vogel and Schurter from Scott Swiss Power team.

The course was extremely physically hard, this is my worst course in the cup. Maybe because of this I was at the end of the leading group and I have been loosing bit in the uphills, but thanks to my EPIC 29er I could easily keeo the great contact with the group and save some power for the finish.

In the last lap we stayed together with Schurter . I wanted to go away from him in the uphill on gravel, but the ground was slippery and I couldn’t make it.

So I knew we gonna do the sprint finish, in the the finish line I went first, not a good position, in the first meters I turned on my big 29er wheels and it was easy to push pedals and keep the position.

I didn’t count with the winning, because Schurter is a great sprinter, which he confirmed many times…

This is the final of World Cup for 2011, I think perfect, 5 wins in 7 races.

We also won the team competiton, winning in all races is just pointing what is great for this races and how important is the team background.

Bike: Specialized S-Works Epic 29er 2012

Tires: Specialized Renegade S-Works 1.95

Food:

Before: Voltage energy cake,Bcaa,Magnesium life

Nutrend

During: Profi drink,Enduro snack,Carbosnack,Turbo

After: Regener,Bcaa,Glutamin

This time the European Championship took place in Slovakia, in Dohnany, which is close to the Czech border and very near my place.

The organization of this championship was very professional. Many Czech and Slovak fans came and cheered us on 100%. I felt like I was riding at home.

I entered the race after intense training. The aim wasn't to win, but to collect points and get on top of it before the World Cup in Nove Mesto, in Moravia.

A few days before the race I felt really tired, but just before the race it got better. At the beginning, I was watching to see how the race would unfold, how the other riders would do. At the end, three of us broke away from the pack: Florian Vogel, my great rival Julian Absalon, and myself.

Until the penultimate lap, we took turns in the lead and nobody tried to get away. That’s when Absalon and I sped up, leaving Vogel behind. At the beginning of last lap, on the first longer hill, I tried to break away. Absalon didn’t even get up from the saddle, so I was ok. I defended the title with a clear victory. However, I was happier about my good performance than the title itself, as I was very tired before the race. It’s a great encouragement for next races of the season. Especially for the World Cup in Nove Mesto this weekend, and the World Championship in a month’s time in Champéry, Switzerland.

For the following races I will be using the new 2012 model, the Specialized S-Works Epic 29er with Sid Brain fork.

After a long break I was expecting my next race, very important from the perspective of the Olympic Games in 2012. The Olympic test race was right on the track where the riders will compete next year for the medals. It was the only option to try the track, to observe the possible locations for training and generally to learn how it will look like next year. I didn´t want to go the race for the result. I passed it as a part of training to fulfil the task of minimum 4 hours on the bike every day. The team made fun of me saying that the world championship in the marathon has already passed and they didn´t much understand why I trained in such a way.

As far as the track it is very much physically demanding. Compared to the video that is available, it is much more difficult, because the video was taken from the newly created rolled track dominated by the paths with the put soil and send. There were bigger stones in the stored up track and when it started to rain, it tracked out and the stones appeared on the surface. That´s why the track is now quite challenging and sliding compared to the new one.

That was the main reason why I decided to choose the Specialized 29 "Epic, even though I had decided before leaving for the race that I would go on hard bike 29" HT. I think that in a year the track will pass more changes and generally will be more broken.

The race was ridden full right from the start, mainly due to Julien Absolon, who unlike me, decided to pass the race at the maximum. The first round I was behind him observing his selection of tracks. Then I slowed down, rode in the contact with other riders and tried different tracks to have the direct comparison. It's a good thing to try it directly in the race, because the training is something completely different, it is never passed in the same way as the race. Throughout the race I moved between the 2nd and the 7th place. In the last round I speeded up and finished in the 5th place. In the last round I was the fastest and I gave a minute to victorious Absolon. In the second place there was an immortal Christoph Sauser from our Specialized Team Racing.

At the moment I am expecting one more difficult training block, which I will pass in Jeseniky. Immediately after it I will take part in the European Championship in Slovakia, where I am defending the title. This race, however, is not a priority. Everything leads to the home World Cup race in Nove Mesto in Moravia. The first thing I want to do is to win the overall World Cup. Then just to get the best result in the world championship in Switzerland.

After a week in Canada we moved with the team to the US ski resort Windham in New York state. Last year I won here my first world cup race. The course was same as a last year, long uphill up to the top of ski slopes and then all the way down to the finish line.

Straight after the start I push as much I could, on the top we were together with Nino Schurter. The race was very hard, I tried to stay at my maximum and tried to make it without mistakes. Finaly I made it on 100%, thanks to my Epic 29er, I could stay in technical sections very comfortable and save some power for the climb, which was very sweet because the HT riders couldn’t make it. The finish line I crossed with 1.30 on the second Schurter, who is behind me also in general classification. Great race made also Sauser and Stander, who came after Schurter. This was a great race also for all our team Specialized Racing.

Next important race will be next round WC in Czech republic in Nove Mesto, where I would like to definitely confirm my 1st place in the whole cup. Before this race I am going to the Czech National Cup, then the test race before the Olympic in London and ME in Slovakia.

All the races I am going to do from the full training , because I want to make the best training before the World Championship. Thanks to ASC Dukla Praha I have the opportunity to make ideal and individual training, and want to use it as much as I can.

Next positive is, the season is coming to the end and I wont have any other big longhaul flights.

This all and support of my closest gives my the power for the next job…

Thanks for it all…

bike: S-Works Epic 29er

tires: front: Fast trak S-works

rear: Renegade control

food: Nutrend: Before: Bcca, Endurosnack, Voltage cake

during: Profidrink, Enduro snack, Carbosnack, Shleha

It has been couple of days since the World Championship in Marathon, and I was facing another big race. World Cup in Mont Sainte Anne, in Canada, which I have already known, so I knew what I was getting into. Injuries after the accident appeared to be ok and it was less restricting for me. Seeing that I was also in a very good shape,  it was like an Ace card for me .   

The goal was clear - to regain World Cup leader's jersey,  or even to build a bigger lead.

Tactics in the race were the same as always. From start to finish, to focus only on my performance and do not rely on mistakes of others. At the beginning, I built up a lead of about 20 seconds,  which I gradually raised. It was even better, after half the race. Victory by 1:42 sec. Unbelievable race!

What decided this race, was extremely hard track, very difficult terrain. Those who went on hardtail, were really crazy....
I can thank to the fact that I had my Epic 29er. I had my Epic's shock pumped up to 145psi, compared to standard 180psi. This with larger wheels helped me to fly over all technical passages without unnecessary loss of energy.

In the overall UCI ranking, I have currently 232 points more than the second rider,  Swiss Nino SCHURTER.

I would like to thank my sponsors - Dukla Prague, and the company Nutrend and Seat for the support I get.  

A separate thanks goes to my team - Specialized Racing for the great support and the best possible material - especially in this challenging race, which often decide!

 BIKE: Specialized Epic 29er
 Tires: Fast Trak LK S-Works

18th edition of the ‘Prague stairs’ race happened on 8th of June in the heart of Prague. It started in Nerudova street and drove up to the Prague Castle and then downhill on the old town stairs.

 ‘For this year I was invited also with my team colleaque Burry Stander. Burry finished at the first place after long uphill sprint to the finish line. From the middle of the race, there were three of us in the lead (me, Burry and Jan Skarnitzl). In the last lap, I tried to make an attack and I was waiting to see what’s gonna happen. I made a little mistake before the last uphill to the finish line, Burry overtook me, and at this point I wasn’t able to do anything, so I finished 2nd.

After long 5 years I rode back again on the hardtail bike - S-Works Specialized 29er Stumpjumper HT. Very nice and very fast toy. Generally speaking, this was a very nice race, very nice intensive training at a given time. I will continue with an intensive training till the WC in Marathon race, which is on 26th of June in Italy. On the 18th of June I will be on start of the Czech National Cup race at Pec pod Snezkou. After WC in Marathon, I am flying to Canada and USA for the next rounds of World Cup, where I would like to get back to the first position of the general classifications. My training is running on schedule, the great support I have from army sports camp DUKLA, where I am attending medical examination, regenerations or for training camps. This is also one reason I am still going forward.

bike: SPECIALIZED STUMPJUMPER 29ER

tires: SPECIALIZED RENEGADE S-WORKS

food: before: VOLTAGE ENERGY CAKE

during: ENDUROSNACK,PROFIDRINK

after: REGENER,BCAA

the third round of the World Cup XC took place in the German Offenburg.
This track belongs to my favourite ones, but during the race this is not so true and it was confirmed this time.
I was wearing the WC leader's yersey, and I had a very good feeling:)
From the start we rode very hard, but all the attacks were destroyed at the beggining, so we were still in the group of 9 riders, where none of the favorite riders were missing.
I tried to stay near Absolon, who was the main favorite, he won here 4times in a row.
In the front group I tried to save up some energy for the second half of the race. In the 4th round,  Absolon made a brutal attack. I wanted to catch him, but did not succeed, I lost 30 sec.
At the end, nothing has changed and we stayed on the same positions to the finish line, Absolon gave me 29sec. Second place is also great, but I lost my leaders jersey, we still have 4 WC races.  
Eventhough I didn't feel that great, my performance was good. Absolon admitted: I have gone to my maximum, and I was afraid before the finish line, that you would catch me up.
Next races will suit me better with the profile, so am looking forward to those.
Now i will have one month training before the World Champs in marathon, first chance to get the "rainbow jersey" , anything can happen ...:) during the training I am going to race the Prague Stairs exhibition on 8th of June and then on the 18th of June the Czech National Cup in Pec pod Sněžkou.

One week after the World Cup, I set off to the traditional race in Houffalize, Belgium.

This year, it was not part of the World Cup but it was included in the HC category.

The race was perfectly prepared and the atmosphere was great.

Just before the race I felt quite tired, as I had three difficult training sessions, after I returned from the long trip in Africa.
That was possibly what affected my startup, as I felt really drained on that first hill which had about 20% incline.

When I was at the 3rd round, my position was at about 8-10th place. I could not reach my usual pace, and I was suffering a bit.

After some time, I caught a second breath and my legs finally spinned off. I raced to the front, and I secured a third place after Absalon and Schurter.

So far I belong with those two riders to the best ones out of the season, but I would like to start defeating them.

The next races ahead of me suit me better than the ones I have raced so far. Further, my Epic 29er will be more of an advantage on those next terrain. 

Jaroslav Kulhavy won a fabulous third place in the opening race of the World Cup in Africa!

"I'm very happy because the race was really hard, it was very hot and local technical terrain did not suit me. Two laps before the finish line, Schurter with Absolon raced away, I slowed down as I did not want to risk anything, and I have focused on securing the 3rd place. My new 29er was just about perfect, as I made some final adjustments last week. "

commented immediately after arrival at the destination Jaroslav Kulhavy, which now awaits the race in Houffalize, Belgium which is also ranked in the highest category of UCI.

Jaroslav Kulhavy won a second place in the great race in Pietermaritzburg, on the track where the first World Cup race will take place next week. Most of the teams and countries considered the race as a good quality test and so most of the top XC riders were presented at the start line.
It was heavily raining so the terrain was very muddy and slippery.
"Extreme Race ... mud, very slippery, I was riding very carefully,  but in general it was a good training before the WC.  The race was also very important for future product development of 29er tires into these extreme muddy conditions …. "commented the race immediately after the finish Jaroslav Kulhavy.

After three weeks without racing, here there was another test, this time the opener of the bike season. The 20th edition of the Austrian classics in the vineyards around the town Langenlois. This race was very important for me because I was forced to withdraw from the last race at Cyprus because of the ruined pedal.  It is still very crucial to test the new Epic 29er, to have it completely tuned up for the World Cup.

The start of this race was already unpleasant, right from the lane a 1km long hill. From the beginning of the race, a group of about six riders was created which I was part of. There were 2 long hills and in between two valleys. The race was very fast.  When we were reaching the semi final circuit, me and Karl Markt raced off and moved away from others. The entire last circuit I was at a first place with Karl glued to his rear wheel and waiting what will happen. The finish line was right after a deep descent, which I was very confident about, as I am good at downhill run, plus on a 29er it is even more definite. This has confirmed and I have won so I defended last year's victory. I felt physically very strong eventhough I have lost on speed as I have not been racing for a month.

First race at Cyprus Afxentia Cup, 3 stages: (time trial 6km, marathon 45 km, classic cross-country)  I went to Cyprus to try out the new Epic 29er. The reason was obvious, as I wanted to ride this bike for my entire season.

Unfortunately, I have picked up the bike, just before the departure, so hence I did not have much time to try out this new
bike and adjust my fitting.

That really showed in the first stage. It was the time trial where I finished 6th, with a small time difference to the winner.

Second stage had a similar run-through, I still could not get my bike right, and I had to re-adjust my saddle position several times throughout the race. It did really take a lot of my energy and influenced my result, but I have compensated for all of this in the last stage, which was cross-country.

It was really great, right from the start, I felt good, 29er really helped me mainly in the technical parts of the terrain. It run through the terrain grimly like a 'bunker'.

So I have ended up in the 2nd place, overall, so I am satisfied with this result. I feel, that my fitness level is the same as last year.

And I am also very certain, that I will not ride a different bike rather than the 29er :-))

Otherwise, I took this race with a 29er in standard specifications.

Tires: back: FAST TREK 2BLISS S-WORKS

front: CAPTAIN 2bliss S-WORKS