Strongman Jiri Tkadlcik won fourth place at the World Cup in Russia!
Author: Last week our best Czech strongman of U105 category, Jiri Tkadlcik, participated in the Russian World Cup, just a few kilometers from the North Pole! What was Jiri's preparation like, how did he travel to the competitions and what were the extreme conditions like? You can read about it in the following interview with the unwavering Tkadlčík, who has once again become a crowd favourite.
Hi Jirka, you went racing after a long time, what made you do it?
That's a bit of a funny question to start with. I'm a professional athlete who loves the sport, I enjoy it and I missed it after the covid break. I find that it still fulfills me and gives me what I need. Plus, I'm happy to be able to compete against the strongest in the "trail"!
Why did you choose these races? Did you have any other races up your sleeve?
Specifically, I went to Russia to Teriberka, which is located above the Arctic Circle, to race in the World Cup, where I could defend the honour of the Czech Republic.
I chose this race because it offered racing in extreme conditions, precisely because it was located above the Arctic Circle. Moreover, there are always spectacular races in Russia. Of course, it was very difficult to get to the races because of the visa and the covid time doesn't contribute much to that either. However, I had one more race in my backlog and that was in Ukraine, but I'm glad it worked out in Russia as there were really TOP competitors.
How long did you prepare for these races? And how satisfied were you at the end of the preparation?
The preparation took two months and I wasn't happy with it, as I was accompanied by injuries - either knee or left shoulder, which I managed to heal about 80% halfway through the preparation. Otherwise, I have to knock that no other injury took place.
The preparation itself was hard, because it was outdoors, but that was to my advantage, because I was able to use that hardness. If you train at -5°C and in snow, then nothing can throw you off, even in the Arctic Circle.
Did you know in advance what kind of riders you would be competing against at the races, or did you let yourself be surprised?
I knew the competition, I knew that I would compete against the best racers from Russia who have a lot to offer to the world. Which it was, because the first two places were taken by Russians. There were also Americans, so it was really great. I knew the guys well so I knew what I was getting into.
Was there a lot of competition?
Yes, the competition was great. I think there were some of the best track racers the world has to offer at the moment. Of course, it changes all the time - someone is injured, someone is out of shape, but either way I think there were the best at these races.
What disciplines did you compete in?
The disciplines changed a few times, but in the end they were simple.
The first discipline was the axle max - it was about getting as much weight overhead as possible in three reps (I put 155kg).
The second discipline was squats with a car on the structure (first time I squatted with a car in my life) with a weight of around 320kg. It was moderately unstable and non-standard. However, I gave seven reps which I was happy with.
The third event was light trunks 125kg (I still don't know why so light) - 20m sprint. I finished 4-5 in this discipline.
Penultimate discipline was deadlift on axl axle with 300kg without jersey. I did seven reps. I won this discipline
Well, the last discipline was the atlas stones max. The order was 165kg, 185kg, 195kg, 205kg (I didn't do 195kg anymore).
What discipline suited you the most and what discipline suited you the least?
Well, I was probably most disappointed with the atlas stones, because I had them pretty good in training. Unfortunately I didn't have any bigger than 182kg in training, but I was putting it fairly easy twice, so I thought I could crack that 195kg in there. Unfortunately, I technically blew it...
The best discipline for me was the deadlift, probably as always. (laughs)
You finished fourth in the final standings, is that a success or more of a disappointment for you?
Fourth place in such a competition is of course great. I think I had a good chance to be second because I was the second strongest. I really didn't have the strength to be first, but I definitely could have been second. Unfortunately, I made a technical mistake on the atlases - I used summer wax instead of winter wax and it was slipping. So it wasn't a problem of strength, but of technique - but that's also a strongman.
Did you have a partner with you or did you travel alone?
Well, unfortunately I had to travel all by myself, which is not great. It took me about 18 hours to get there and 19 hours to get back, so it was pretty tough. At the same time I had to do the administrative work and send home the results to my wife, so it was quite challenging to combine these two things together.
How would you assess the overall course of the race?
I would rate the course of the race very, very positively. The race was fast, it took about four and a half hours. The location was TOP, the races took place on such a Nordic beach, where they even built such a throne for the winner, which looked like the throne of Odin. Of course the conditions were worse because it's a few kilometers from the North Pole. We had quite an unpleasant wind with sand, but I like to get down a bit. Of course the conditions weren't world record setting, but it was still really TOP.
How did you enjoy the races?
It was definitely an amazing race. The accompanying programme was also amazing - they showed us their homeland - the beauty, the wealth and the poverty... At the races, they took great care of us - what we wanted, we got - they asked us what we wanted and I jokingly said I wanted lobster for dinner tomorrow and they actually brought it to me. (laughs) Otherwise, the audience was fantastic as well. Sometimes they even cheered for me more than for the Russians. At the end they even asked the audience who would win the race and people were chanting "Jiri, Jiri!", so it was so funny.
Will we see you at any more races this year?
I hope so. I'm planning to race in Iran now and then in Kazakhstan. Savickas said he's going to invite me to race in Lithuania. It should be the World Championships and the European Championships, but it's a lot about sponsors, as there's not much money now after the covid, so we'll see.
Are you planning to organize any races in the Czech Republic this year?
In a fortnight we will do the "Strongman Beginner Cup" in Šumava. At the same time we would like to do competitions for "trailblazers". For now it's just in preparation, because the "covid" time has also hit us and if we want to do something, we want to do it properly.
Photo galleries:
Source: instagram
No posts have been made yet.
