Luboš Pelánek
Summary
 Luboš Pelánek | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 July 1981
|
| Team information | |
| Current team | Comeback |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Professional teams | |
| 2000–2001 | PSK–Unit Expert |
| 2005–2006 | Relax–Fuenlabrada |
| 2007 | AC Sparta Praha |
| 2008 | Lampre |
| 2009 | Amore & Vita–McDonald's |
| 2011 | Farnese Vini–Neri Sottoli |
| 2013 | Team Vorarlberg |
| 2014 | Differdange–Losch |
| 2018 | Kőbánya Cycling Team |
Luboš Pelánek (born 21 July 1981 in Třebíč) is a Czech professional road bicycle racer[1]. He has raced in teams filled with the best cycling racers in the world, among others the world champion Alessandro Ballan or the winner of Giro d'Italia Damiano Cunego. One of his managers was Tony Rominger, the world hour record holder and the three times winner of Vuelta a España and once Giro d'Italia. Luboš Pelánek has become an Italian Champion with his world class team Lampre despite his tough start involving two car accidents while cycling. In 2020 he is preparing for a comeback.
Accidents and Recovery
First accident
Throughout his career Luboš Pelánek has suffered two tough accidents when he was hit by a car, in one of the cases, the first one, he was left on the ground without help. where he was lying until he decided to help himself alone. He has shown a high level of determination by climbing back on his bike and getting himself into a hospital. After an examination he was faced with a tough decision. As he was freshly part of the world class spanish cycling team Fuenlabrada and was preparing for his first big race when the accident happened, he had to decide whether to drop his dreams and stay on the ground or fly with the team to attend the race. Flying would mean an extreme risk for him due to the pressure in the cabin and his head injury. He decided to stay only after the doctor in a desperate try to persuade him showed him an ultrasound of his own pregnant wife and said: "This is life". After this unorthodox method Luboš Pelánek decided to stay and recover.
Re-evaluation and recovery
This event made him rethink his values and in general enjoy life more. But he did not give up on his dreams. Luboš Pelánek started rehabilitating and training hard, to be able to again sit on a bike, race and win. As he said he would, he did. After few months he was back and has won his first big race. But soon after a second accident happened.
Second accident
Luboš Pelánek has been hit by a car during a training near Monte Carlo. It was a tough head-on collision that took him out of the cycling game for years. The aftermath involved many flesh wounds and multiple fractures. He has not given up. As soon as possible he started training again, to be able to again race and place among the best, or at the absolute top.
Present [2020]
Luboš Pelánek has set up a brand Girasole through which he combines professional cycling retreats for general public by the Lago di Garda lake in Italy with a positive attitude for life he calls "vivere" or simply "living".
Major results
2002
- 2nd Overall Grand Prix Bradlo
2007/2016
- - 1st Ruota d'Oro
- - 1st Grand Prix Kyjov
- - 1st Grand Prix Bradlo
- - 1st Grand Prix Sticks Hills
- - 1st Coppa Flamen
- - 2nd G.P.M. Giro Regione
- 9th Giro dell'Appennino
References
- "Luboš Pelánek". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
External links
- Luboš Pelánek at ProCyclingStats
- Luboš Pelánek Personal Website