Hrdlička Sr. and Kripner crowned Czech cycle-ball champions
Jiří Hrdlička Sr. and Jan Kripner of SC Svitávka have won the Czech cycle-ball title. At the final tournament in Zlín on 26 September, which closed the top-flight season, they came from behind to beat Sokol Zlín 5:4 in the deciding match. According to the Czech Cycling Federation, it is the first title the two have won together.
Five teams took part. The new champions reached the final with three wins, their only defeat coming against Zlín in the last group game. Ludvík Písek and Tomáš Horák of Sokol Zlín took silver. Bronze went to Robert Zvolánek and Martin Drabálek of Sokol Šitbořice, who won the third-place match 6:4 against Jiří Hrdlička Jr. and Roman Staněk of MO Svitávka. Ondřej Kydlíček and Josef Reindl of Start Plzeň finished fifth.
Winners of three of the season's five rounds, Hrdlička Sr. and Kripner also earned the Czech place at the World Championships in Ludwigsburg, Germany, held at the turn of October and November. Kripner will be making his World Championship debut, while Hrdlička Sr., world champion in 2003 and 2008, last competed at a Worlds in 2022. The previous Svitávka title came in 2024 through Hrdlička Jr. and Staněk.