The Tour De France

Since our humble beginnings as a bicycle company, our love for cycling has been absolute. After all, it’s in our blood.

That’s right, the Škoda story began not on four wheels, but two: with a bicycle called the ‘Slavia’, built in 1895 by our founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. Besides their first names and a love for cycling, they had another thing in common: a strong inventive spirit.

Through this bond, the two friends went on to build some of the world’s formative motorcycles, which were soon winning races and breaking speed records. Encouraged by this success, they graduated to four wheels, and with the ‘Voiturette A’, started an automotive lineage that makes Škoda one of the oldest car manufacturers in the world.

But as the years have rolled on, Škoda’s passion for cycling remains strong. This shines through in our smart car design, with blind spot detection and area view, which help make the road safer for cyclists. We also have some clever, cyclist-friendly accessories like lockable bike carriers and food and drink coolers.

What’s more, we’ve launched an online platform dedicated to everything there is to love about cycling, which you can find more about below.

After a 33-year hiatus, the Tour De Femmes returned in 2022! And with eight Australians featuring across six teams, there was plenty of Aussie action to cheer about. Stage one begun in iconic fashion along the Champs-Élysées just prior to the men’s final stage concluding at the Paris landmark. It was a thrill to watch the brutal final stage, where the riders tackled the Super Planche des Belles Fille - knowing only one would ride away with the Maillot Jaune and be crowned Tour des Femmes Champion.

We’ve been the Tour de France’s official car supplier and partner since 2004. Since then, we’ve proven that behind every great bike is a great car. Our fleet of around 305 Škodas operates as neutral support vehicles, including road crews and logistic vehicles.