Vojta Bláha: The latest addition to the Horsefeathers bike team

We're excited to introduce you to the newest addition to our bike team for the upcoming season. It's Vojta Bláha, a Prague native who currently calls Northern Bohemia his home. This 24-year-old enduro rider, who reached the winner's podium at a young age in the junior category of the World Cup, also holds the title of Czech Republic enduro champion, victory in the Czech Enduro Series, and many more. Vojta has been absolutely killing it in his biking career so far, and we're stoked to see what this season's gonna bring for him. In the meantime, you can learn more about him in the following Welcome interview!

Let's take a look at your achievements, of which you have many. On the domestic scene, you won the Czech Republic Enduro Championship in 2022 and last year you won the Czech Enduro Series. Which of your achievements means the most to you and why?

I particularly value the Czech Republic Enduro Championship since it took place on my favorite track and everything clicked just as it should have. It was great. However, domestic competitions don't appeal to me as much as international challenges do. For me, a particularly valuable achievement was, for example, the Trans Madeira race, where I finished in fifth place, and of course, the World Cup, where I placed second in the junior category. Even though it was among juniors, standing on the podium at the World Cup holds greater value for me than any success on the domestic scene.

How do you perceive the differences between Czech and World Cups?

I must say that in the past, there was a significant difference between Czech and World Cups. World Cups were significantly more challenging, both physically and in terms of the technical difficulty of the tracks. Often, it was a challenge just to finish the competition. However, this difference is diminishing nowadays. World Cups have adapted for better accessibility, leading to their simplification. On the other hand, Czech competitions are increasing their level to get closer to international standards. They are starting to be challenging; they are pure competitions where good physical condition and skills are required, and with these conditions, it is starting to suit me.

Do you feel that participating in international competitions helps you achieve better results on the domestic front?

Definitely, yes. The impact is noticeable not only in technical skills and speed but also in mental resilience. After experiencing international competitions, I approach domestic races with greater calm, I'm less nervous, and I can enjoy it more, which positively reflects on my performance. Competing with the world's best riders strengthens me, and when I then return to the "Czech pond," I perceive everything with greater ease. Moreover, the technical and speed improvements gained on the international scene are a huge benefit in domestic competitions as well.

How do you handle the financial aspect of traveling to World Cups?

In the beginning, my parents helped me a lot financially, for which I am extremely grateful. Gradually, I managed to establish partnerships with sponsors, thanks to which I can earn enough to cover the costs associated with traveling and personal expenses. Although it's not huge amounts of money, it's enough for me. Thanks to this, I can live the life I love, travel, and fully dedicate myself to biking, even though I probably won't be able to save for retirement from it. Biking isn't at the level of tennis or football yet, where big money is involved.

You seem to have a good footing on social media, where you're quite active. Do you manage it all by yourself? Do you think biking is moving in a direction where content creation for social media is prioritized over competition results?

In biking, there's an increasing shift towards the importance of content on social media. Many bike influencers and YouTubers, who make a living from creating content, show that this trend is gaining momentum. For me, content creation complements competing, and I strive to excel in both areas. Creating content allows me to respond to partners' demands, but I also enjoy it. My goal is to be not only a great rider but also to produce quality content that accurately reflects my reality. In most cases, I create content myself, with occasional help from my girlfriend with photography and filming. My collaborations are often focused on content, which currently outweighs the need for competition victories. However, I find it important to first prove my abilities in the real world and then showcase them in videos and photos.

What does your training plan contain?

In the beginning, I had several coaches. With enduro, it was more complicated because there wasn't a clear training method for this sport. So, I trained with coaches focused on downhill as well as with cross-country cycling coaches. Gradually, I started to create my own training plan because enduro requires excellent endurance, good physical condition, and technical skill. Now, I rely more on my feeling and strive for a holistic approach: from endurance training, through strength training, speed training, to the actual biking. The goal is to prepare as best as possible but also to enjoy it, as the joy of riding is key for me. I went through periods of hard grind without visible results, but when I started to approach training with more perspective and enthusiasm, the results came. I try to find a balance to avoid burnout or exhaustion.

Sure, mindset plays a big role, do you have any tricks for that?

I usually get into it over the course of the season. I often have a weaker start, where I might not believe in myself much, but as the season progresses and results start coming in, my self-confidence grows. I start to believe in my abilities, and if some victories are added to that, it propels me to even better performances. This season, I'm trying to start more actively from the beginning, participate in less important competitions to get into the groove. I'm not naturally a very aggressive type, maybe because I've never been involved in bicross or similar disciplines with more people on the track. For me, it's important to regularly remind myself of the competitive spirit and gradually get into it.

What are your plans for this season?

Next week, the first competition - Blinduro Winter, is taking place, which I consider as a warm-up competition, and then the full season starts for me in April. I definitely plan to go to all the World Cups, and I will also try to participate in Czech competitions, the Czech Enduro Series plus Blinduro. Then, I plan to include some exotic destination since the World Cup has significantly shifted to Europe this year, and I would like to race somewhere outside of Europe. But I haven't fully figured it out yet; I would like to add some interesting destination from which some captivating content could emerge.

Do you have any dream contest or a dream destination where you would like to ride? Maybe something like Leader's Kilimanjaro or Gaspi's volcanoes?

Expeditions are very appealing to me, I like them and I admire people who are capable of planning and executing such adventures. However, I am more focused on competitions since I'm not a complete freerider. As for specific places, Whistler in Canada is the pinnacle of biking for me. I've had the chance to ride there, it was my dream, and in reality, it was even better than I imagined, so I definitely want to return there. It's a fantastic place. Furthermore, South America, specifically Chile, where I had the chance to ride in the Andes, attracts me. I would like to return there because what I experienced and explored during the competition is just a small part of what can be ridden there.

What advice would you give to beginning or progressing enduro riders?

In my opinion, spending a lot of time on the bike is the key. People often ask me how to achieve this or that, and I learned everything by riding every day after school until it got dark. There are certain biking techniques, but it's very individual. Sometimes you don't need to have perfect technique to be an excellent rider. I believe that regular training and effort can lead anyone who is seriously interested to success. The key is simply to ride a lot. If you enjoy it, try to spend as much time on the bike as possible and try different tracks because that is what will advance you further.

photo: Sven Martin, Patrik Procházka, Petr Milfait, Adéla Šafránková, Kike Abelleira

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