August 16, 2026, Czech Republic – The 2026 Czech Tour reached its decisive final showdown on Stage 4. The stage departed from Kroměříž and finished in Pustevny, covering a total distance of approximately 160 kilometres with a gruelling summit finish climb. After an intense battle, Alessandro Fancellu of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort claimed the Stage 4 title thanks to his outstanding climbing prowess and dominant late-stage surge, sealing a brilliant finish for his squad at this year’s event.
Fancellu Powers to Stage 4 Victory
As the race entered the final ascent to Pustevny, the peloton thinned out, setting the stage for a head-to-head fight for the stage win.
Racing for MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort, Alessandro Fancellu maintained elite form on the closing climb and launched a decisive attack in the run-up to the line. Mid-climb, he suffered a minor mechanical mishap when his foot slipped out of the pedal cleats, yet he quickly recovered, re-engaged his cleats and accelerated without losing momentum.
In the final sprint to the line, Fancellu unleashed devastating explosive power to cross the finish first, clocking a winning time of 3 hours 42 minutes 16 seconds. AJ August took second place, with Nicolas Breuillard rounding out the podium; all three riders recorded identical finishing times.
The Summit Finish Decides the Stage Outcome
The defining feature of Stage 4 was the uphill finish at Pustevny. As the race neared its conclusion, the gradient ramped up sharply, making climbing ability and measured energy conservation the critical factors separating the contenders.
Fancellu delivered consistent, formidable efforts on the final climb. Under relentless pressure from rivals, he avoided burning through his reserves early, conserving strength to strike at the crucial moment right before the line.
Even after the cleat disengagement incident, he swiftly reset his rhythm and secured victory in this summit duel. This triumph stands as his standout performance of the 2026 Czech Tour. Having claimed second place on the two preceding mountain stages, Fancellu finally stepped onto the top step of the podium on Stage 4.
UPVINE Partners with MBH Team to Deliver Peak Performance in Intense Competition
As the official wheel partner of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort, UPVINE supplies the squad with high-performance carbon wheels engineered for elite racing.
Multi-stage races such as the Czech Tour demand extreme resilience from both riders and equipment, featuring repeated climbs, summit finishes and constantly shifting race dynamics. Fancellu’s spectacular Stage 4 victory adds another landmark achievement to the partnership between MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort and UPVINE.
UPVINE will continue to stand alongside MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort as they compete across Europe’s professional cycling circuit, equipping the team with race-proven high-performance wheels to tackle upcoming challenges throughout the season.
Fancellu’s Stage Win Concludes the Czech Tour for MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort
With Fancellu the first to cross the line in Pustevny, MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort capped off the final day of the 2026 Czech Tour with a stage victory.
Beyond his elite climbing skill, Fancellu demonstrated remarkable composure and adaptability amid unexpected race disruptions. The cleat slip failed to derail his rhythm; he regained his composure in time for the decisive sprint that delivered the winning blow.
This Stage 4 title marks a major personal breakthrough for Fancellu at the 2026 Czech Tour and underscores MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort’s competitive strength on high-difficulty mountain stages.
