Baku, April 3, AZERTAC
Tereza Hurikova has returned to her homeland to support Czech cycling and compete at Baku 2015.
The 28-year-old Mountain Biker has spent the last two years competing for U.S.-based team Specialized Racing. After her contract ran out, Hurikova is back in her home country trying to push her sport.
"I collected a lot of valuable experience with Specialized Racing. Now I would like to push for the development and popularization of Czech cycling," Hurikova said in an interview with the website Aktualne.cz.
Hurikova is one of the best Czech cyclists in cross country mountain bike. The Vimperk native said she wanted to use big competitions to gain attention for the sport.
She hopes to compete at the Baku 2015 European Games and then the European Championship later this summer as well as the world championships.
Hurikova plans only on competing in cross country. The 2008 Olympian is hoping to eventually get to Rio 2016, but she knows it will not be easy.
"(In the Olympics) The Czech Cycling Association, according to the world rankings, only has two places for mountain bikers (male and female). That could change during the year," Hurikova said.
"Katerina Nash also wants to go to Brazil. So it will be important to collect as many points as possible in the important competitions."
Hurikova feels confident regardless: "I believe that I will fulfill my wishes, meaning a podium finish and a ticket for the Olympics."