For 26 year old Czech rider Leopold König 2013 kicked off with a whisper rather than a bang. The second part of the season, however, proved far more sparkling as he stringed together a series of results that bodes well for the upcoming 2014 season. In his 2nd season for Team NetApp-Endura, König exceeded all expectations with an amazing stage win in the Vuelta and 9th place on GC. It really put his team on the map and made them serious contenders to land an invite to the Tour de France in 2014.

His season started fairly slowly, but exploded into life at the Tour of California where he claimed the Queen stage climbing up Mount Diablo and finished a very respectable 8th in the ITT. Combined, these performances put him into 11th on the GC. He was sitting in 9th place at the Dauphiné before having to retire from the race, having finished a very credible 12th in the ITT. He won his home race, the Czech Cycling Tour, finished 3rd on stage 6 in the Tour of Poland, before his brilliant Vuelta.

In the Spanish Grand Tour he came very close to winning stage 2, but finished 4th, before taking stage 8. A bout of illness stopped his GC bid, but he hung on to claim 9th.

Reviewing his season in an interview, König expressed his satisfaction with his personal results and his improvements with the team.

“It’s been the most successful one so far in terms of results, so I´m really satisfied. But even more important is the fact that my progress with Team NetApp-Endura increases every year,” König stated when talking to Cyclingmole.com.

Asked if his solid performance in the Dauphiné confirmed his belief that he has the potential to challenge in Grand Tours, König answered in the affirmative.

“I think so,” the Czech rider confirmed. “I could prove, not only to myself, that I´m able to do those big races focusing on GC and so my Grand Tour ambitions were one level higher.”

In 2014, it looks like NetApp-Endura will get a wildcard for the Tour de France thanks in no small part to König’s Vuelta performance. Riding in the Grande Boucle, König said, would be a dream come true.

“A Tour participation is, of course, something everyone in the cycling world dreams about and if it would really come true, it would be the highlight of my career so far. For sure we are doing everything possible to make it happen.”

In 2014 the Tour will include a number of iconic climbs and a long ITT, something that seems well suited to König’s skills. Quizzed about his ambitions should a wild card invitation materialize, König said he would seek out particular stages while keeping an eye on the overall standings as well.

“If we would get invited and this decision is in the hands of the organizer, then I would naturally focus on GC and pick some stages just like I did in the Vuelta.”

König also gave a provisional insight into his race itinerary prior to his eventual Tour de France participation.

“We have done a rough first plan looking at possible races like the Bayern-Rundfahrt and the Dauphiné to do well in. Although for the Dauphiné we will need a wildcard from the organizer first, to race it. That’s why it’s rough first plan, so far,” explained the Czech rider from whom great things may be expected during the 2014 season.