Slovakian masseur competes in the World Road Cycling Championships due to staff shortages

The masseur of the Slovakian national team, Vladimir Kováčik, took part in the men's road cycling world championships in Montreal due to staff shortages. »This is every driver's dream. And I'm just a masseur. “That’s crazy,” said the 28-year-old. »Our drivers couldn't come because they were injured or for other reasons. So I was our last option.”

Two Slovakians were injured and a third did not receive permission from his team. If the association had not provided a starter, this could have had consequences for Olympic qualification. The world association UCI could have downgraded the national championships so that riders there could only collect half as many points for Los Angeles 2028. Kováčik's start was therefore a mere formality.

Since a registration deadline had expired, Slovakia could no longer nominate a driver. “We decided on this a few days ago,” said Kováčik before the 273.4-kilometer race. And: »It is the race of my life. I’m doing this for Slovak cycling.«

He was obviously a little worried before the mission: “Form? There is no form. I train a little, but like an amateur." The masseur was celebrated as a "hero" and "legend" on social media.

Kováčik contested his last race of 2017. In Montreal on Sunday he kept up with the field for a good hundred kilometers. Then the jury, like other left-behind drivers, took him out of the race as the difficult final laps approached.

Brandon McNulty (USA) won the race in 6:17:04 hours. He was followed by Michael Matthews (Australia) and Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands). The day before, the women's World Cup cycling race took place: Demi Vollering from the Netherlands won. You can find out more about this – and the momentous mass fall – here.