By the balanced performance in the Afxentia cup stage race in Cyprus, started a 19- year-old racer Matěj Průdek the 2017 racing season.

In the new jersey and on a new Superior Team XF 29 Issue bike, was the youngest member of the Superior MTB team attacking the top 10 overall result of the four-days highest category stage race.

The young rider tested both new material and his performance after the winter.

Matěj took 14th place already in the first 15km stage which was more like enduro race than classic cross-country.

The second stage, 52km half-marathon, Matej finished 14th and he was still thinking about TOP 10 overall result with a relatively small gap.

In the third stage when riders did 65km long marathon race Matěj had a bad luck while flatted the tire in the descent from the highest point of the stage, which meant a loss of a few minutes in the stage and especially in the overall ranking.

Sunday's final stage, cross-country race on a 5.9 km long circuit, was really hard after three previous days of racing. Matěj rode with a solid pace again and thanks to the another top 20 result underscored the overall 14th place.
 
"It was the first test of this season for me. At its beginning, and especially so soon, I think I am doing physically well! As the body is not ready to race so much my legs were in fire during the stages but I did it!  I guess that my performance will go up during the season. There is still enough time till the first World Cups," said the only 19 years old youngster.