6.2.2025

ČEZ Jizerská 50 kicked off its 58th edition in a traditional manner with freestyle races

A total of 822 skiers set out on the courses, which mainly attracted passionate athletes. At the finish line, Fabián Štoček and Eliška Šibravová celebrated victory in the thirty-kilometer race. Filip Mairich and Tereza Hujerová dominated the seventeen-kilometer race.

Sunny weather with freezing mornings and warm afternoons briefly gave way, as Bedřichov woke up to a typical Jizera Mountains morning.
It was foggy, and the landscape was dusted with wet snow. However, the change in conditions did not prevent the organizers from meticulously preparing the courses. In some places, there was only the necessary minimum of snow, but the racers did not have to worry about their skis and could give their best performance.

Volkswagen Bedřichovská 30 for a prepared title defender

The Volkswagen Bedřichovská 30 found an alternative route around the Josefůdolská Reservoir, Kristiánov, Hřebínek, and the final section around the Černá Nisa Reservoir. The organizers decided to preserve the difficult-to-maintain section around Krásná Máří, where snow had to be transported. Statisticians will remember this race well, as exactly 500 racers took part.

The skiers set off at 13:35. Despite the modified route, the race unfolded similarly to 2023. Defending champion Fabián Štoček maintained control at the front of the race and attacked on the climbs. He took advantage of thoroughly testing his skis before the start and knowing the entire course well.

"I do skate skiing, but in training, I use it more for endurance and recovery, so I don’t do many intervals with it. I went into the race with a similar tactic as last year. At the beginning, I stayed in the pack and attacked on the climbs. Before the finish, I even had room to sprint on the Dr. Max timed section," said the defending champion.

Jilemnice’s Ondřej Pilař finished second, while trail veteran Jiří Ročárek took third place.

Results - VW Bedřichovská 30 (25.5 km) Men

1. Fabián Štoček (ED systém Vltava Fund team) - 1:04:15

2. Ondřej Pilař (ČKS SKI Jilemnice) +0:36.6

3. Jiří Ročárek (Vltava Fund Ski team) +3:10

Among the women, Eliška Šibravová delivered an outstanding performance, leaving behind former Olympian and Jizera Mountains legend Zuzana Kocumová. German skier Laura Stichling finished third.

Results - VW Bedřichovská 30 (25.5 km) Women

1. Eliška Šibravová (ED systém Vltava Fund team) - 1:09:44

2. Zuzana Kocumová (ED systém Vltava Fund team) +1:52

3. Laura Stichling (GER, ED systém Vltava Fund team) +4:03

Jizerská 17 champion undeterred by chin injury

By contrast, the Jizerská 17 was able to use its traditional circuit, the so-called T-Mobile Magenta Track, which in recent years has ensured high-quality skiing even outside the official ČEZ Jizerská 50 race period. The start of the shorter race followed at 13:50.

Filip Mairich was the first to cross the finish line, securing a decisive lead in the final climb, which also featured the Dr. Max timed section. However, he almost lost his advantage at the end.

"On the climb from Nová Louka, I gained a good lead and thought that as long as I didn’t fall, I would win easily. Unfortunately, I fell, but I still managed to hold on," said Filip, whose chin bore a victorious scrape on the podium.

Results - Jizerská 17 (17.5 km freestyle) Men

1. Filip Mairich (Ski Klub Jablonec nad Nisou) - 45:19

2. Jan Šembera (Ski Klub Jablonec nad Nisou) +0:02

3. Martin Koukal (Kempy Martina Koukala) +0:15

Tereza Hujerová had a more comfortable finish, breaking the tape as the first woman. She used the race as preparation for the main fifty-kilometer event, drafting behind her male counterparts.

"At the start, it took me a while to get into rhythm since I don’t skate ski much. The snow was surprisingly fast—I expected to finish in around an hour, but we were back in 50 minutes," said the winner, who regularly trains in the Jizera Mountains but currently competes for an Italian team.

Results - Jizerská 17 (17.5 km freestyle) Women

1. Tereza Hujerová (Team Robinson Trentino) - 48:47

2. Edita Pozlerová (EDPOTEAM) +4:53

3. Anežka Krouská (SK Kotlářka) +9:32

The day concluded with a ceremonial opening.

A group of "historical skiers" took on the honorable duty of recreating a nostalgic journey. Dressed in old-fashioned attire and using vintage skis, they glided across the Bedřichov stadium trails. Thursday’s program traditionally concluded with a tribute at the memorial to the fallen participants of the Peru expedition.

Since many of the event’s organizers personally knew some of these climbers—or today, more often, their parents' friends—the gathering had a solemn and commemorative atmosphere.

On Friday, the schedule first features the Mini Jizerská 50 Dr. Max children’s races, open to participants aged 3 to 14 years. In the afternoon, the spotlight will shift to the T-Mobile Corporate Relay, a spectator-friendly event. Each of the four-member teams will face the challenge of a steep climb to the U Buku crossroads and a thrilling downhill section.

The evening will offer even more excitement with the Orlen Sprint, showcasing many elite racers. Those who cannot make it to the Bedřichov stadium will be able to catch the highlights on ČT Sport.