BERLIN – Emergency responders in the Czech Republic and Poland were grappling with flooding on Saturday while Austria declared some areas disaster zones amid historic rainfall in central Europe and as forecasters warned that worse is ahead The first villages were evacuated in the Czech Republic and Poland and communities in Austria have been declared disaster areas at least four people died in the floods after heavy rainfall Emergency forces in the Czech Republic and Poland have been preparing for severe weather since Friday Heavy rains in the Czech Republic led the Elbe River to rise with the Czech weather service reporting up to 7 inches of precipitation in the worst affected regions in the previous 24 hours Authorities have issued the highest flood alert level in around 35 locations More than 60,000 households have been left without electricity The northwestern administrative region of Usti nad Labem bordering Germany is worst affected with more than 20,000 households temporarily affected by power outages due to trees falling on overhead power lines amid the strong winds preparations for the expected flooding of the Vltava River were in full swing with flood barriers being erected along the river banks A hospital in Brno was evacuating 180 patients to other facilities Ambulance services and the fire brigade helped transport patients as the Svratka River continues to rise and water entered the basement where the power supply is located the mayor of the Spindleruv Mlyn resort in the Giant Mountains recommended all tourists and visitors leave town as the Elbe looks set to burst its banks and the access road could be flooded The highest flood alert level was also in effect at more than 40 other gauging stations nationwide with areas around Jesenik in the Altvater Mountains in the east and Frydlant in northern Bohemia worst affected The authorities declared an emergency situation in the eastern region of Moravian-Silesia and a flow rate of 800 cubic meters of water per second was expected in Prague during the course of the day Water levels in rivers in the Czech Republic are expected to rise further over the weekend with the peak expected in Prague on Sunday morning Krakow is also struggling after the heavy rainfall and city officials offered people sandbags at 28 locations to protect their homes Public transport in Krakow was temporarily disrupted after several underpasses in the center were flooded and trams and buses were temporarily diverted meteorologists recorded rainfall reaching 6 inches leading its mayor to order the evacuation of the village and two further communities along the Zloty Polok River Some 400 residents of the nearby village of Glucholazy also had to be evacuated Interior Minister Tomasz Simoniak visited the scene Some 100 firefighters and 60 police officers had been deployed to the village “The situation has come to a head in just a few minutes We really don’t have much time,” Simoniak warned after a meeting of the crisis management team in Nysa “The next 24 to 36 hours will be the most difficult.” Some of the residents of the village of Morow also had to be evacuated because the Mora River burst its banks there The fire department responded to a total of 400 calls in the region more rain has fallen in southwest Poland than during the so-called millennium flood of 1997 and the alert level has been exceeded at 47 gauging stations across the country Prime Minister Donald Tusk appealed to citizens in the evening to get to safety in good time Austrian emergency authorities declared 12 municipalities to be disaster zones after persistent heavy rainfall the floods are expected to reach levels generally seen only once in a century “The coming hours will be the moment of truth for flood protection and a massive test for our emergency services and many of our fellow citizens,” said governor of Lower Austria we expect challenges of historic proportions.” The emergency services are preparing to evacuate people to safety as a precaution amid fears the Ottenstein reservoir could overflow it would cause considerable flooding along the Kamp while the area is also being battered by heavy winds Parts of eastern and southern Germany have also been battered by heavy rainfall with the German Weather Service forecasting more storms to come Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Czechia is experiencing severe weather conditions on Saturday morning including heavy rains and flooding across multiple regions the country has been under intense rainfall The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) has issued extreme flood warnings for several areas as river levels continue to rise The weather is expected to persist with continued rainfall and strong winds precautionary measures against flooding are still underway and there have been multiple public transport disruptions Flooding has been reported in various parts of the country The most severe flooding is occurring in the Olomouc Region with 400 interventions reported by firefighters since Thursday with flood stages reaching critical levels The Bělá River has overflowed its banks in Mikulovice and Česká Ves resulting in road closures and the construction of sandbag dikes are actively involved in rescue operations and evacuations The ČHMÚ has identified extreme flood risks in regions such as Frydlant rainfall in the Jeseníky and Krkonoše mountains has been particularly intense with up to 164 millimeters recorded in some areas with the third and highest flood warning level in effect at several locations The severe weather has also led to widespread power outages Over 63,000 households across Czechia are without electricity The largest disruptions are in the Ústí Region where more than 20,000 households are affected followed by 13,000 households in the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions The outages are attributed to both fallen trees and wind damage Emergency crews are working to restore power across the affected areas Travel has been significantly impacted by the storm trains were halted on approximately ten routes due to fallen trees and safety concerns Firefighters have responded to 28 incidents on Czech railsways The most affected regions are Liberec and Hradec Králové Train services are expected to resume once conditions improve and safety checks are completed In Prague, heavy rainfall has led to the closure of the C Line entrances at the Muzeum metro station with passengers advised to make use of the A Line entrances at the station Prague Zoo has also announced that it will not open to the public this weekend. Operation of the Petřín cable car has been suspended until further notice, and numerous public transport lines have been affected; an updated list can be found here The Czech capital continues to implement flood defense measures on Saturday particularly in areas like Holešovice and Stromovka The Vltava River's water level is expected to rise significantly prompting the construction of flood barriers and the temporary suspension of river cruises The city's flood defenses are being bolstered in preparation for the anticipated peak of the river level expected to reach its highest point overnight from Saturday to Sunday Emergency services and local authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating responses to mitigate the impact of the severe weather Prague's municipal info line (+420 800 100 000) will provide updates on flood measures between 9 a.m Your morning coffee deserves a great companion. Why not enjoy it with our daily newsletter? News from Czechia, curated insights, and inspiring stories in English. Flood warnings were in place at over 200 locations across the Czech Republic at 12pm today with the highest threat level 3 designated at 44 locations on more than 30 rivers and waterways River levels have been rising since Friday evening and the situation is getting worse as the rain continues the Central Flood Commission called on the governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region to declare a state of emergency The situation is also still serious in the Jeseniky area of Olomouc and the Frydlant area of Liberec but there are problems in several other regions as well Trains are not running on dozens of lines across the country since this morning due to extreme weather – some because of fallen trees Railway managers are trying to get the lines back up and running as soon as possible but heavy rain and strong winds have continued to complicate the situation since the morning “The extreme weather is complicating rail traffic The railway administration is working intensively to remove obstacles and at the moment traffic is stopped on several dozen lines We advise passengers to postpone their weekend journey unless absolutely necessary,” CD said Railway firefighters intervened in 28 incidents from Friday evening until 6am this morning mostly in the Liberec and Hradec Kralove regions a spokesman for the Railway Administration’s firefighters told reporters that the service was preparing for a demanding weekend more than 60,000 households in the Czech Republic were left without electricity this morning due to extreme rain and wind CEZ spokeswoman Sona Holingerova and E.ON spokesman Roman Spernak told journalists CEZ said the most failures (more than 20,000) were in the Usti nad Labem Region while over 13,000 were without power in the Liberec and Hradec Kralove regions Several thousand households were also without power in the Central Bohemia and Karlovy Vary Regions it is calmer in Moravia,” Holingerova said Several rivers in the Moravia-Silesia Region reached extreme flood threat this afternoon including the Opava river at Karlovice and the Cerna Opava river in Mnichov according to data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMU) the situation improved and the level dropped slightly Severely raised water levels are expected to make their way to South Moravia by tomorrow where preparations are underway to mitigate the damage Around 180 patients were evacuated from the Hospital of the Merciful Brothers in Brno as water rising through the sewer system put technical facilities at risk including the hospital’s alternative power sources “Even though the hospital probably won’t be flooded technical facilities and alternative sources of electricity through the lower sewer the hospital would not be able to function which is why we are evacuating it to be safe,” said South Moravian Governor Jan Grolich mainly to the Brno faculty hospitals in Bohunice and St Today we are continuing mainly with follow-up care patients We will transport them to hospitals in Blansko Hustopeče and Boskovice,” said Pavel Piler director of the hospital of the Merciful Brothers Staff from the evacuated hospital will reinforce teams at these hospitals The river Svratka reached the third stage of flood warning at Brno-Židlochovice this afternoon exceeding four metres with a flow rate of 140 cubic metres per second it was in a dry state with less than five cubic metres which flows through several Brno city districts rose by tens of centimetres in the last 24 hours water managers explained that the rises in water levels are mainly controlled as part of the preventive draining of reservoirs the worst of the situation should be seen on Sunday “If heavy water and floods really come and we will have time to prepare for it,” said South Moravian Governor Jan Grolich Advertise with us Privacy Policy Brno Daily is a Czech media outlet for expats Our partners The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. EDMONTON -- Former NHL defenseman Ladislav Smid is still up for a good challenge who played 10 seasons in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames finishing the 21.1-kilometer (13.1 mile) course at the Edmonton Marathon in a time of one hour "I was scrolling through my phone on a Sunday night about a month and a half ago and the Edmonton Marathon popped up and I thought I would like to try something like that to challenge myself," Smid said but I didn't really specifically train for this Thank you @Edm_Marathon for having me!!! Congratulations to all the runners and walkers who participated today and also a BIG thank you to all the people who cheered us on and made this amazing event happen. I had a great experience running my first half marathon!!!💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/jIggiG3Y7X A native for Frydlant, Czech Republic, Smid was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round (No. 9) of the 2004 NHL Draft. He was traded to Edmonton on July 3, 2006, in a deal involving defenseman Chris Pronger. Smid played parts of eight seasons with the Oilers before he was traded to the Flames on Nov. 8, 2013. Between Edmonton and Calgary, Smid played 583 games and had 72 points (12 goals, 60 assists). He concluded his playing career with five seasons in the Czech Republic. Smid is now an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. The Edmonton Marathon is an annual event, which features races in a variety of distances. "It was the first time I've run that far," Smid said. "The most I ever ran before was 10k, but it was never something I timed. I really like to challenge myself and see how far I can push myself and this was a good test and I'm glad I did it." Smid said he felt good through the first part of the race but had to battle through the last few miles. "The route ran by my house, so my kids were waiting there for me with signs, so it was exciting," he said. "The first half really flew by and the second half, when I was starting to get passed by the marathon runners, the really elite runners, I thought maybe I was going too slow. "That started creeping in my mind and the last two or three kilometers I was starting to cramp up, but I kept seeing people in front of me and my competitive side kicked in and I tried to catch up to as many people I could see in front of me. I picked up my pace and started to catch up to people, but it didn't feel really good, because I was cramping up and at the same time, I was really pushing myself, so that last two or three kilometers were really, really hard." Smid said he does not consider himself an avid runner, but will look at attempting to complete the full marathon (26.2 miles) in the future. "I'm going to take some rest, because I'm super sore today, but it's something that's on my bucket list, running a full marathon," Smid said. "I don't know if it's next year or the year after, but it's going to take a little bit more training. I didn't do specific training for a half marathon, you just have to keep in shape, but for a full marathon, I would have to do more training because it's a serious distance. Hopefully, I can accomplish it one day." Seven decades after it vanished, the hunt is on again for the famed Amber Room, stolen by the Nazis from Leningrad in 1941. Two German treasure hunters claim the priceless room panels, gifted by Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm to Tsar Peter the Great 300 years ago, were hidden in the cellar of a Bohemian Castle at the end of the second World War – and that the Czech authorities have covered up their priceless trove for decades. Czech authorities have rejected the claim, the latest in a long line of theories about the whereabouts of the most sought-after of artwork looted by the Nazis. The Amber Room was created originally for Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin but instead was packed in 18 boxes and shipped to St Petersburg. After several stop-offs its last home in Russia was Catherine Palace, in what is now Pushkin, where the final version of the dazzling chamber comprised six tonnes of amber that covered 55sq m (590sq ft) of wall space. When the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Amber Room guardians tried unsuccessfully to hide the panels behind wallpaper. Nazi art specialists ordered the room disassembled and shipped to Königsberg – today’s Kaliningrad – and it went on display in the city palace. When Königsberg was bombed by the Allies in April 1945, curators claimed the Amber Room was destroyed along with the palace – an assertion supported by two British investigators in 2004. A year earlier, in 2003, a replica Amber Room opened in St Petersburg. However, the hunt for the original continues: in Königsberg, in mines under the western German city of Wuppertal and in eastern Germany’s Harz mountains. The tip-off for the latest claim came nine years ago from a woman who once worked as a cook in Frydlant Castle in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. In February 1945, weeks after Adolf Hitler ordered the Amber Room's evacuation from Königsberg, the cook noticed scores of SS men disappearing into the castle with unmarked crates. Every night for two weeks, she said, they carried their deliveries into the cellar – and then vanished. After hearing this, German treasure hunters Erich Stenz and Georg Mederer visited the castle and noticed two cellar vaults had been walled in with modern bricks and cement. They say Czech officials at first denied the castle had a cellar then, after being shown photgraphs taken by the two men, claimed it contained books from a Berlin library. When the treasure hunters were given permission to look again, they say castle officials prevented them using special equipment to see what lay behind the modern walls. "The whole thing stinks," said Mr Stenz to the Süddeutsche Zeitung daily. "The Czechs are afraid that it will come out that they've kept silent on this for decades." The two German treasure hunters also claim to have found a document from senior Nazi Martin Bormann that confirms their Amber Room theory. The document’s reference to “where Matthias strokes the strings” is a cryptic reference, they claim, to Frydlant Castle’s former owner Matthias Gallas. "It all fits," said Mr Mederer to the Süddeutsche. "It's mad." Mad it is, claim the Czechs. And, after seven decades missing, the hunt for the Amber Room continues. Derek Scally is an Irish Times journalist based in Berlin Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC The first ideal image of a society was a fortress The Babylonian story of Gilgamesh praises cities for their sturdy walls The Old Testament idealises societies with walls of bronze and a failed cosmos around: the appeal of isolationism has been present across the world and throughout history It particularly characterises societies on the decline But here is another lesson from history: walls and isolationism do not work Walls and other barriers they try to fix a political situation that cannot be fixed A first consequence of a society that seeks to retreat behind walls is that it vacates more of its neighbourhood to the negative influences it is afraid of It creates a power vacuum so that security threats advance right up to the walls and gates of the decaying society As long as the walls are manned by soldiers or challengers bought off to remain quiet the city goes on to consume its prosperity the walls and the soldiers create a false sense of security While citizens think the world around insecure The more they assume to be safe behind walls or borders the less they are interested in investing in their defence and consume their wealth in more pleasant ways This is what the ancient Greek poet Kallinos meant with \"lazing in shabby peace\" Roman historian Sallust with \"Fortune turned savage\" or the Chinese historian Liang Qichao with a nation \"drugged\" by the enjoyment of a false peace is the word most commonly used in historical works The Western world has reasons to be worried There are countless examples of vicious cocktails of climatic change and growing hostility upending prosperous societies One only has to look south towards the Middle East and environmental stress to turn more desperate and violent Just consider what risks refugees already take to cross the seas Our response today is quite similar to how Ammianus Marcellinus described Rome's apathy towards the refugees of that time The tendency to hide behind the Mediterranean Sea and to build fences along the outer border imperils the security of the next generations of Europeans But it is too easy only to criticise the rightists and their fixation with barbed wire Trump for his wall on the border with Mexico The moderate politicians who have run European politics for decades have failed to implement an effective neighbourhood policy Europe pays billions to authoritarian leaders to keep refugees and terrorists away and education neighbouring countries is stagnant those who criticise the right for being protectionist but they themselves create smokescreens that are as harmful They hardly know what to do in response to the Syrian conundrum the forces of anger and desperation that build up in Egypt supporting the French who are completely overstretched with economics and politics remains absent is the leadership that explains citizens that we must continue to reach out but an area in which it offers a convincing alternative to extremism and authoritarianism Either you help shape the future of your environment or the environment shapes your future: that too is a recurrent them in the turbulent history of world politics Jonathan Holslag is a professor of international politics at the Free University of Brussels and author of Peace and War Previously he worked as a reporter for The Guardian in London and as editor for AFP in Paris and DPA in Berlin 0 CommentsMigrationOpinionby Jonathan Holslag log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives Become a member for as low as €1,75 per week MigrationOpinionDisclaimerThe views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s, not those of EUobserverAuthor BioJonathan Holslag is a professor of international politics at the Free University of Brussels and author of Peace and War Jonathan Holslag is a professor of international politics at the Free University of Brussels and author of Peace and War 2017 7:00 AMCycle faster and smarter by creating your own custom kitRecord-breaking Adam Hansen built a home-factory to manufacture the world's lightest cycling shoesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveGetty / DAVID MARIUZ / StringerAdam Hansen doesn't know when to quit The Australian cyclist has completed 17 consecutive Grand Tours (Giro d'Italia From his home in Frýdlant nad Ostravicí in the Czech Republic, Hansen, 36, has installed a 3D printer, seven vacuum pumps and a cutting room. Using a combination of Kevlar, boron and carbon-fibre cloth along with moulds that create casts of his feet he makes what he claims are the world's lightest cycling shoes no paying customers have managed to step into a pair yet but not because of the €2,500 (£2,100) price tag - he just hasn't found the time to make any more of them Read more: Brompton Electric Bike: WIRED takes new battery-powered folding bike for a test ride In a sport influenced by marginal gains, any weight savings are substantial. "It's about rotational mass," he says. "A mechanical engineer told me it makes a huge difference." As well as developing disc-brake mechanisms and writing logistics software for his Lotto-Soudal cycling team, Hansen also organises trips to the Himalayas to learn more about the effect of altitude training on red-blood-cell levels. "What most cyclists are doing isn't wrong," he says. "But they're only just touching it." Hansen's Grand Tour run will end one day, but at least there will be a silver lining when he hangs up his cleats: he might make a pair for us to wear. Shoes: Weighing 76g per shoe, they are described on Hansen's website as the lightest in the world. Brakes: Hansen's designed a quick-release mechanism for the new generation of disc brakes. Software: The Lotto-Soudal cycling team and other professionals use Hansen's logistics software. This article was originally published by WIRED UK It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking Landesweit galt an mehr als 120 Pegel-Messstationen die höchste Hochwasser-Alarmstufe Nach heftigen Regenfällen und Sturmböen sind die Straßen der Kleinstadt Glucholazy im Süden Polens überflutet: »Wir gehen unter« sagte der Bürgermeister und rief die Einwohner auf Tausende Menschen mussten evakuiert werden Glucholazy aus der Luft: Ein Zentrum steht unter Wasser den Hund an der Leine: Eine Familie flieht in Glucholazy vor dem Hochwasser das aus dem Fluss Biala kommt und die Wälle und Dämme in zwei Städten überflutet Evakuierung per Boot: Einwohner des polnischen Ortes Rudawa im Süden Polens werden aus ihren Häusern geholt Im Südwesten des Landes war am Nachmittag ein Staudamm gebrochen Auch der Ort Jawiszowice in Polen ist kaum noch sichtbar Polens Regierungschef Donald Tusk sagte den von der Flut geschädigten Bürgern finanzielle Hilfen zu Seine Regierung werde dazu auch Unterstützung bei der EU beantragen Gräber unter Wasser: Ein überfluteter Friedhof im polnischen Brzeszcze Panzer rollen durch Nysa: Die Behörden haben die Armee um Hilfe gerufen Reißende Wogen voller Schlamm: Der Nebenfluss der Oder habe bei Klodzko einen Pegelstand von 6,84 Meter Üblich sei ein durchschnittlicher Wasserstand von etwa einem Meter Lukasz Cynalewski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl / REUTERS Auch in Tschechien gibt es heftige Überschwemmungen: Hier ein Blick auf die Elbe in Spindlermühle Besonders dramatisch ist die Situation in der tschechischen Stadt Krnov Der stellvertretende Bürgermeister Miroslav Binar sagte der Agentur CTK zufolge dass geschätzt 70 bis 80 Prozent des Stadtgebiets unter Wasser stünden Der Fluss Bela in Jesenik: An mehr als 50 Stationen wurde ein Jahrhunderthochwasser gemeldet um Menschen aus ihren Häusern zu evakuieren Die Regierung in Prag will am Montag zusammenkommen um über außerordentliche finanzielle Hilfen für Betroffene zu entscheiden Der tschechische Präsident Petr Pavel rief zu Spenden für die Hochwasser-Opfer auf dass die am stärksten betroffenen Gebiete wie um Jesenik im Altvatergebirge und Frydlant in Nordböhmen zugleich einige der ärmsten Regionen des Landes seien Heftige Regenfälle lassen die Talsperre im tschechischen Husinec (Böhmerwald) überlaufen: Die darunter liegenden Gemeinden entlang der Blanice konnten frühzeitig gewarnt werden Nach dem Sturm: Umgestürzte Bäume in der Nähe des tschechischen Dorfes Èuèice Das überflutete Stadtzentrum im tschechischen Freiwaldau Aufwischen nach der Flut: Diese Kirche im rumänischen Dorf Pechea stand nach den heftigen Regenfällen und Stürmen unter Wasser In Rumänien sind mindestens sechs Menschen ums Leben gekommen wurde nicht verschont: In der südöstlichen Region Galati standen Menschen bis zum Oberkörper im Wasser Hunderte mussten im ganzen Land aus den Fluten gerettet werden insgesamt waren fast 6000 Haushalte betroffen Präsident Klaus Iohannis sprach von »dramatischen Folgen« des Klimawandels In vielen Hochwassergebieten Österreichs ist noch keine Entspannung in Sicht »Die Lage in Niederösterreich spitzt sich weiter zu« sagte Bundeskanzler Karl Nehammer nach einer Sitzung des nationalen Krisenstabes Wenn aus dem fast randvollen Ottenstein-Stausee größere Wassermengen durch die Flutklappen schießen könnte es im Unterlauf des bereits stark angeschwollenen Kamp zu erheblichem Hochwasser kommen Schutzmaßnahmen in Wien: Einsatzkräfte bauen auf den Gleisen der U4 bei der Pilgramgasse eine Hochwasserschutzmauer auf Bei Auspump-Arbeiten kam ein Feuerwehrmann in Österreich am Sonntag ums Leben Die Donau ist in Passau über die Ufer getreten: Einige Bereiche der Altstadt stehen bereits im Hochwasser Am Sonntag war die Lage in Deutschland insgesamt noch weitgehend entspannt aber in einigen Orten galten erste Alarmstufen Teile Süd- und Ostdeutschlands bereiteten sich auf steigendes Hochwasser vor Steigende Pegel in Dresden: Erste Flächen des Elbufers sind auf der Neustädter Seite gegenüber der historischen Altstadtkulisse vom Wasser der Elbe überflutet ZF is a global technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars commercial vehicles and industrial technology Its comprehensive product range is primarily aimed at vehicle manufacturers mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types the company contributes to reducing emissions protecting the climate as well as enhancing safe mobility We want to actively shape the future of technology for mobility and industry Our aim is to convert today’s potential into tomorrow’s competitive advantages We supply mobility systems for passenger cars ZF offers comprehensive product and software solutions for established vehicle manufacturers and newly emerging transport and mobility service providers ZF is looking for exceptional people at all levels – from experienced specialists to inquisitive apprentices Learn more about how you can join us today Learn more about ZF’s global technology — including its board You can also find the latest financial figures here Our sustainability ambitions require holistic thinking We are convinced that cooperation is the key to successful sustainable development Alongside the automotive sector – passenger cars and commercial vehicles – ZF also serves market segments such as construction and agricultural machinery ZF reported sales of €41.4 billion in fiscal year 2024 The company operates 161 production locations in 30 countries Inga Starbatty was practically born with a love of anything with an engine and as a child her dream job was to be one too These were ideal prerequisites for the FutureStarter Innovative driveline and chassis technology as well as components and technology for safety systems ZF’s sustainable solutions for commercial vehicles in logistics and public transport ZF also provides mobility for off-road applications Carnival Row, which shot extensively in Prague and other Czech locations from autumn 2017 through spring 2018 and again for additional reshoots earlier this year received its debut trailer from producer Amazon yesterday Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne star in the series about a neo-Victorian city full of fairy tale creatures and the strife that occurs between its human residents and waves of mythical immigrants fleeing their war-torn world Bloom plays a human detective investigating the murder of one of the mythical creatures Delevigne is a fairy-like character who assists him in the case seen fluttering about in the new series trailer While much of Carnival Row was shot in studio at Barrandov some Prague location work can also be glimpsed in the below trailer Additional locations across the Czech Republic were used for the series including chateaux in Frýdlant and Krnsko and the majestic Prachovské skály natural rock formations Carnival Row also shot in Liberec, now famed as one of the key locations for Spider-Man: Far From Home Amazon is expecting big things from Carnival Row which is one of the most expensive original productions in the history of its streaming platform Before even airing the first episodes of the show Amazon has already greenlit Carnival Row for a second season Carnival Row is one of the most expensive productions ever to film in Prague with producers spending an estimated 1.5 billion crowns in the Czech capital during its initial six-month shoot Re-shoots earlier this year added to that tally Season 2 of Carnival Row will also shoot in Prague and the rest of the cast and crew to be in the Czech capital for an additional six months starting this autumn and website in this browser for the next time I comment About | Contact | Terms | Privacy Adam Hansen was never going to sit still in retirement. The Australian former pro is best known for his record stint of 20 consecutive Grand Tours between 2011 and 2018 and for his loyal service to sprinters Mark Cavendish and André Greipel at the T-Mobile/Columbia/High Road/HTC and Lotto/Belisol/Soudal franchises But as a gifted polymath with eclectic interests he built his own ultra-light carbon shoes and pioneered new approaches adopting a vegan diet and doing cross-country skiing in winter He has also lectured in computer programming at Queensland’s James Cook University and built his own cycling logistics software achieving an impressive 15th place at the 2021 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships But in 2023 Hansen accepted his toughest challenge yet: the thankless politics-drenched presidency of the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA) – the largest union of pro cyclists in the world But I like learning and testing myself so I thought I put my hand up and it is just ten times the work that I was told I have a problem with my girlfriend at the moment because I’m always on my phone.’ Hansen’s reluctance to get into pro cycling politics is exactly why he is the right man for the job Anyone with an ego or excessive ambition would fail but Hansen’s introversion means he understands other riders’ reticence and his diligence and selflessness ensure he is committed to authentic change ‘I don’t like to play the political game,’ he admits we had a call with the president of the UCI [David Lappartient] yesterday That’s when all the riders can ask questions really get into him and get what you want to know.” And the president was like you don’t have to go hardcore!” But that’s how I want to act.’ Hansen knows that most riders find cycling politics ‘too complicated’ and ‘just want to ride their bikes’ so he tries to make life easier for them by inviting them to WhatsApp anonymous questions for him to ask the UCI president ‘I don’t mind putting my face in front of the riders to say this is what they want to know – please answer the question,”’ he insists The questions that cropped up during Hansen’s recent Zoom meeting provide a rare insight into the minds of modern pro riders There were broad questions about improving the longevity of teams but also specific concerns about the hazardous gravel stages at the 2024 Tour de France ‘We understand that it’s good visually on TV but I agree with the riders on this stance where if you include gravel sections you have at least 70% of the peloton who have never been on a gravel bike and you’re doing this at the world’s biggest race,’ says Hansen but using your front brake on gravel is very dangerous,’ he says Hansen’s biggest responsibility so far has been negotiating a new Joint Agreement between the CPA and the AIGCP (Association International des Groupes Cyclistes Professionels) the organisation that represents the pro teams the agreement includes a 5% rise in the minimum wage to €42,047 for a men’s WorldTour rider (women’s WordTour minimum salaries have been set by the UCI at €35,000) a rise in health insurance to €100,000 and a rise in life and disability insurance to €250,000 Hansen was shocked at the holes in some teams’ insurance schemes ‘Some teams were getting travel insurance for riders competing in Australia and the travel insurance does not cover dangerous sports,’ he says So this is one really important thing that we had to get changed.’ especially after the death of Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder at the 2023 Tour de Suisse A new initiative called SafeR will be introduced soon where they will have auditors who will randomly go to races and make sure the race is put on in a fair way,’ says Hansen ‘Around 50% of all crashes are due to rider behaviour,’ says Hansen ‘So riders do cause a lot of crashes themselves But it’s also down to the organisers and other issues too.’ organisers have introduced more audio alerts ‘The problem today is that the tyres are faster the wheels and frames are more aerodynamic the riders’ positions are more aerodynamic and riders are consuming more carbohydrates than ever so they have more energy than ever,’ says Hansen He admits that riders need better education about speed and safety He points out that Formula 1 drivers can use computer simulations to practise circuits whereas pro cyclists compete on roads they have never seen before ‘How riders do these corners at high speed is that they’re basically turning the corner and they look at the rider in front of them,’ he says And they’re basing everything on the information of the rider in front of them That’s an insight that only a former pro could know And it’s why he believes the key to safety lies in better course design the Paris-Roubaix sector that is the most dangerous we had a few sports directors call up saying: look they just want broken bones and broken bikes,’ he says ‘But the biggest issue with Arenberg is it’s almost like a sprint finish.’ so he would like to introduce two 90° corners to slow riders down so they hit the Arenberg cobbles at 25-30kmh instead ‘You can still have the culture of the sport but you don’t have riders coming in at 55kmh,’ he says ‘This can improve the safety side of the sport without killing the sport.’ Hansen’s role as a domestique conditioned him to sacrifice his own interests to help others his CPA role feels like a continuation of his work on the bike ‘I was always helping Cavendish or Greipel I don’t want to say my job was relatively easy but I was always a pretty good climber for my bodyweight and I could always climb better than André and Cav.’ As a young pro at the all-conquering HTC-Highroad team Hansen’s selflessness impressed Mark Cavendish But over time Hansen worked more for the team’s other sprinter André Greipel – a decision made by team DS Rolf Aldag but we have other guys who when they ride for Cav give 100% but when they ride for André they give 60-70%.”’ Hansen’s professionalism made him an excellent team player ‘I also don’t really like to be in the limelight,’ he adds But his impressive career was also built on intelligent innovation Adopting a vegan diet improved his weight and health helping him to stay light and illness-free for all those Grand Tours Working on his fat metabolism in training helped him to preserve his muscle glycogen for later in races Building his own carbon shoes (at 76g per shoe they were ‘lighter than a Mars bar’ he says) and using narrower handlebars saved him valuable watts ‘I probably wasn’t the best cyclist,’ he reflects His innovative approach unexpectedly prepared him for the kind of conflicts and debates he now faces at the CPA ‘I was using 36cm handlebars and I had a fight with the mechanics because I had girls’ bars,’ he laughs But he got used to calmly explaining and debating things Some DSs called him ‘Twin Towers’ because of the high spacers he used on his TT bike to tuck his hands in front of his face ‘Now look today: everyone does it,’ he says Hansen’s game-changing methods have certainly influenced modern pro cycling Hansen gets annoyed that people ignore his two Grand Tour stage wins (Stage 7 of the 2013 Giro and Stage 19 of the 2014 Vuelta) and only talk about his 20 back-to-back Grand Tours (he started 29 in total But he now recognises the historical significance of his feat ‘No one else has done it and no one will ever do it again,’ he concludes Hansen has ‘no regrets’ over his selfless career or the sacrifices he made ‘It’s hard for some people to understand that I really felt that we won the races and we were really part of it.’ 2004Wins the Crocodile Trophy – a gruelling ten-day mountain bike race in Queensland – then repeats his victory the following year signs as a pro for T-Mobile (later the HTC-Highroad-Columbia franchise) 2008Wins the Australian national time-trial championship 2011Moves to Omega Pharma-Lotto (later the Belisol/ Soudal franchise) and is included in the Vuelta line-up the first of his 20 consecutive Grand Tours 2012Becomes the second Australian to start all three Grand Tours in one season 2013Wins Stage 7 of the Giro – the sole survivor from a 140km breakaway 2014Takes a second Grand Tour win on Stage 19 of the Vuelta 2015Breaks a 57-year record by finishing his 13th consecutive Grand Tour at the Vuelta 2018His record-shattering run of 20 consecutive Grand Tours comes to an end at the Giro 2020Completes his 29th and final Grand Tour at the Giro 2021Finishes 15th in the World Triathlon Long Distance Championship in the Netherlands 2023Named president of the CPA – the pro cycling union – in March ‘To get selected every year was not so easy So to have all that fall into place is not only a remarkable achievement performance-wise but also just luck and being healthy and staying away from crashes.’ ‘Back at HTC-Highroad [in 2007] they picked a whole group of riders [such as Mark Cavendish and André Greipel] that would develop into stars and they knew their potential and they could sort of foresee it Whereas today teams are looking at guys that are already good and they’re just dropping huge amounts of money on them crossing their fingers and hoping they will be this one kind of rider.’ ‘People say: can you be a top professional on a vegan diet Victor Campenaerts [Lotto-Dstny] right now is on a 99.99% vegan diet and he has been racing extremely well all professionals rely on vegan food as energy: pasta sucrose – everything that’s energy-based is vegan And if you look at Caleb Ewan [Jayco-AlUla] this year and the problems he had with Lotto-Dstny [his former team] And things can go south very quickly on the mental side.’ • This article originally appeared in issue 150 of Cyclist magazine. Click here to subscribe You must be logged in to post a comment To manage an existing Cyclist magazine subscription, please visit Manage your account or visit our subscription FAQ page. To subscribe, or for other enquiries, please contact us Sign up to the Cyclist newsletter to receive curated emails direct to your inbox Sign up to our newsletter Log in to access Cyclist Rides using your email pertaining to your subscription Don't forget a subscription to Cyclist includes: Log in to post comments and use Ask Cyclist our AI platform that answers your questions based on our articles Register to comment on our latest articles Occasional emails from selected third-party sponsors and advertisers Please enter your username or email address to reset your password This week sees the opening of two Christmas markets in Prague while further afoot castles throughout the Czech Republic begin opening their doors for advent markets and special performances in the run-up to the holidays For those who want to exchange the merry hordes of the Prague markets for a Baroque palace or medieval fortress dressed in yuletide finery these smaller though no less festive celebrations are just a train ride from Prague and offer Christmas cheer in stunning surrounds NelahozevesNovember 22-24Read more Nelahozeves’ annual weekend advent market a Renaissance-era castle located 25 km north of Prague The market is held in the courtyard of the castle with several stands throughout the grounds selling traditional crafts as well as offering workshop stations and real Scottish bagpipers will precede the lighting of the Christmas tree (16:30) followed by a “special surprise.” Grown-ups can enjoy a taste of Lobkowicz mulled wine Hluboka nad VltavouNovember 24-December 31Read more Hluboká Castle via Wikipedia / @romanhorak Hluboká Castle is one of the most distinctive chateaus in Europe with its Romantic facade and surrounding gardens An idyllic setting for enjoying some holiday cheer Its advent weekends have dozens of events planned ranging from a Christmas market with handicrafts and food stalls in the Prince’s Court plus a tour of the interior spaces and workshops for chidren focused on the work of Czech illustrator Adolf Bjorn Loučeň ChateauOpens November 30thRead more Loučeň Chateau (Photo via Facebook) A Baroque castle surrounded by an English park that’s famed for its labyrinths and mazes Loučeň Chateau is also home to the largest advent wreath in Bohemia Every year the palace opens its advent celebration with a ritual involving four angels who accompany the White Lady of Loučeň as she lights the candles on the wreath and blesses the pre-Christmas period This year’s lighting happens November 30th as does the opening of the exhibit “Christmas Tree Story” featuring 21 themed Christmas trees Grabštejn via Wikimedia commons this Renaissance castle occupies a three-country border area where Germany It is one of the best restored castles in the Czech lands meaning that its “Clam-Gallas Christmas in Grabštejn” events are worth attending for the tour of the festively decorated interiors alone not to mention the ornament decorating workshops KřivoklátDecember 7-8; December 14-15Read more Built during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II this magnificent royal castle was purportedly home to Charles IV during his childhood years A varied program takes place here across two weekends in December with its medieval courtyard hosting advent markets A historic train will transport visitors to the site from Prague’s Smichov station on December 14-15 LoketDecember 7-8Read more The charming town of Loket (Photo via Facebook) This 12th-century Gothic stunner in the charming town of Loket near Karlovy Vary will host its advent celebration from December 7-8 The festivities focus on the crafts and customs of the Ore Mountain region Visitors can try their hand at making straw ornaments or decorating gingerbread decorating and dance from the Ore Mountain region are on the program Frýdlant Castle December 7-8Read more Frýdlant Castle (image by Simy27 from Pixabay) Frýdlant Castle near Liberec rises up from a basalt rock above the River Směda The complex consists of a medieval castle and a Renaissance chateau and is considered one of the most important monuments in the Czech Republic It is also Central Europe’s oldest castle museum A special series of Christmas-themed tours will take place here throughout the advent season even offering visitors a chance to decorate the castle tree Karlštejn Now through January 12Read more Majestic Karlštejn Castle has numerous events (concerts A large historical marketplace will pop up under the castle where regional products from carvers and jewellers as well as advent wreaths and many other Christmas goods The Museum of Nativity Scenes as well as multiple performances and castle tours throughout the season make the short train ride from Prague worth the trip Jindřichův HradecDecember 7-8Read more Photo via www.zamek-jindrichuvhradec.cz the third-largest historical castle complex in the Czech Republic annually hosts a lively marketplace with regional goods as well as numerous food stalls in the second and third chateau courtyards during the advent season The popular market has increased in size this year and will add a music a menagerie of animals and blacksmiths and potters showcasing their skills Hrádek NechaniceNovember 30-December 15Read more Photo via www.zamek-hradekunechanic.cz A variety of advent-related festivities will take place in this so-called “Jane Eyre” castle a 19th-century Gothic-style Romantic château near Hradec Králové where guests will be able to taste English Christmas punch and other holiday treats You can search for additional advent events (in Czech) at the National Heritage Institute’s website and get excited when you hear the word “Dvořák,” we suggest you venture northwest to a charming town called Nelahozeves This hidden gem is nestled along the Vltava and prizes one of Bohemia’s prettiest Renaissance castles dating back to the 10th century But its biggest claim to fame is that it's the birthplace of one of music’s most important composers walk up to the Nelahozeves Castle (we suggest listening to Serenade of Strings as you do so) you’ll take in a rich collection of paintings and historical artifacts that span centuries as the country celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Year of Czech Music visitors will get to know Dvořák as never before Don’t miss it: The Antonín Dvořák Birth House will open in Nelahozeves on June 28 admission will be reduced until the end of summer 2024 Visitors can explore the Central Bohemian village where the acclaimed composer grew up via audio guides that take them from his modest beginnings to global acclaim the annual Dvořák Nelahozeves Classical Music Festival What else to do: Head to the marina for a sightseeing cruise, boat rentals, or a bite to eat at Marina Vltava restaurant after visiting the castle.  How to get there: Nelahozeves is easily accessible by public transport from Masarykovo nádraží Take the regional train directly to Nelahozeves Castle in under an hour; trains run regularly on Saturdays and Sundays Prague may be a literary haven for bookworms – from beautiful baroque libraries to overfilled antiquarians and endless cafes – but there is still plenty to do outside of the city for fiction fans.  If you’re looking for a literary excursion that’s not far from Prague head directly east to a small town called Kersko. This cottage settlement inspired the renowned Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal, and you can now visit his former cottage, recently reopened as a museum to delve into the life and works of one of the country's most beloved authors.  Don't miss it: Hrabal's Hájenka is a restaurant in the Kersko cottage settlement where the film The Snowdrop Festival based on the author's book of the same name Visitors can dine in the pub featured in the movie The menu focuses on venison dishes paired with the Hrabal-inspired Postřižiny beer the medieval city that brews the beer named for Hrabal’s book Postřižiny (Cutting It Short) After strolling or grabbing something to eat How to get there: Kersko is easily accessible by car with the drive taking just over 30 minutes from Prague you can take a train from Prague's main station to Lysá nad Labem and catch a local bus to Kersko View this post on Instagram A post shared by Státní hrad a zámek Frýdlant (@hrad_frydlant_zamek) Don’t miss it: Celebrate the second annual Frýdlantsko Franz Kafka (Franz Kafka’s Frýdlant) this summer from July 6 to October What else to do: Wander the streets to the main square or cozy up at a local cafe with your favorite Kafka novel. We suggest CAFÉ Jazzová Osvěžovna How to get there: Frýdlant is easily accessible by car in just under two hours you can also take the Flixbus from Florenc bus station and arrive in Frýdlant in two and a half hours Just pay close attention to timetables as only a few Flixbuses pass through this town each day.  With the world's highest beer consumption per capita and more than 400 breweries, the Czech Republic is a beer haven for locals and tourists alike While it’s not hard to tire of beer-related experiences in Prague from local hospodas to buzzing beer gardens to monastic breweries you might also wonder what else Czechia’s beer culture has to offer many put Pilsner or České Budějovice at the top of the list but we suggest heading about 40 km southeast of the city to the small town of Kostelec nad Černými lesy This quaint destination has everything you could want in a medieval town: Renaissance buildings, an impressive castle, and dense fairytale-like forests wrapping the city (hence the name: "Kostelec in the Black Forest”). But the trip's highlight will be the new National Beer Museum showcasing Czech brewing traditions with historical equipment Tours run daily and start at the Černokostelec Brewery Entry includes access to English-friendly audio guides and you can taste some of their microbrews.  What else to do: Pack a few beers and some light fare for a picnic on the Vyžlovka Lake stroll the many trails in the nearby nature preserve before heading back to Kostelec nad Černými lesy for beer and Czech food at the museum’s Černokostelecký pivovar How to get there: In a little over an hour you’ll be able to reach Kostelec nad Černými lesy by public transportation Take the regional train from Masarykovo Nádraží to Český Brod then take a 25-minute bus ride over to Kostelec nad Černými lesy Trains leave every hour on the weekends.  The Czech Republic is the place to be for outdoorsy folk with four national parks and over 25 protected areas and camped as day or weekend trips from the capitol But if you’re looking for a little more luxury (without spending a lot of money) surrounded by the Křivoklát Highlands and protected landscape areas lavender-scented experience in the heart of Barrandien Geopark Once you arrive at Lavandula Bohemia indulge in aromatherapy or grab a bite to eat at their local farm-to-table restaurant If you want to venture away from the breathtaking fields and surrounding the town are many tranquil hiking trails to explore Lavandula Bohemia now offers glamping experiences: tents and tiny homes amongst its organic lavender fields What else to see: Catch a one-hour regional train to the base of Karlštejn Castle How to get there: The fastest way to get to Chodoun is by taking a direct regional train from Prague's main train station Direct trains leave a couple of times a day so be sure to check timetables when planning If you aren’t able to catch a direct train you can still get there by taking a bus from Zličín to Zdice in just under an hour and a half What else to see: After getting refreshments and a bite to eat at Café Na Výsluní, visit one of the many chateaus and castles in the surrounding area, such as Mělník, Veltrusy, or just slightly further out Kokořín. How to get there: A direct train leaves Masarykovo nádraží every couple of hours, getting you to your destination in just an hour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Turistická oblast Brdy a Podbrdsko (@brdyapodbrdsko) What else to see: Should your feed lean a little more towards historical grandeur stay in Hořovice and take in the elegance of the 300-year-old Hořovice Château which has plenty of architectural beauty and lush gardens to photograph How to get there: Typically, the best way to reach the Brady region is by car, traveling about an hour’s drive southwest of Prague on the D4 highway and following signs for Příbram. But from June 8, a new circular cycle bus line marked 505 will take tourists and cyclists from Příbram to Kozičín or Orlov to experience the beauty and tranquility of Brdy It’s been nearly seven decades since it vanished; people worldwide are beginning to search for it again – the Amber Room The Amber Room was stolen from Leningrad in 1941 Two German treasure hunters claim that some of the room panels which were given by Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm to Tsar Peter the Great 300 years ago were hidden in a cellar of a Bohemian Castle It is believed that those panels were hidden toward the end of the Second World War What is interesting is that the Czech authorities have been covering up this priceless treasure for decades many Czech officials have rejected this claim just like they have the many other theories that have been around for decades regarding the whereabouts of the most priceless stash of looted artwork by the Nazis The Amber Room had originally been created for Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin but it was packed up into 18 boxes and shipped to St the final version comprised some six tons of amber that covered 590 square feet of wall space When Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in 1941 guards protecting the Amber Room were unsuccessful in hiding the panels behind wallpaper A Nazi art specialist ordered the room to be disassembled and shipped to Konigsberg The amber then went on display in the city’s palace Many curators believe that the Amber Room was destroyed along with the palace This theory is supported by two British investigators who looked into the information in 2004 in mines under the Western German city of Wuppertal and even in Eastern Germany’s Harz Mountains The last claim that anyone has heard from came nearly nine years ago The call came from a woman who said she had once cooked in Frydlant Castle in Bohemia after Hitler had ordered that the Amber Room be evacuated from Konigsberg the cook noticed hundreds of SS men disappearing into the castle with unmarked crates those SS men carried the deliveries into the cellar and then vanished German treasure hunters Erich Stenz and Georg Mederer visited the castle the woman mentioned They noticed two cellar vaults had been walled in with modern bricks and cement The two men said that Czech officials at first denied that the castle had a cellar then after the men had shown the guards the photographs they took the officials claimed that it had contained books from a Berlin library The men had been granted permission to look at the cellar again the Czech officials prevented the men from using special equipment to see what actually lay behind the walls Stenz told a local newspaper that the whole thing stinks He and the other treasure hunter believe that they have actually found the treasure but Czech officials are preventing them from looking because the government has been keeping this secret for decades The men have also claimed that they found a document from senior Nazi Martin Bromann which confirms the treasure hunters’ theory about the Amber Room The document had mentioned “where Matthias strokes the strings”; this reference could be a secret message regarding Frydlant Castle’s former owner Although the treasure hunters are so close to what could be the biggest treasure find ever They will work toward finding a way to dig out the brick and mortar that covers the mysterious space in the wall Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE