At the Energamo Lipnolopet, the first Ski Classics Challengers event organized in the Czech Republic, Kateřina Janatová was able to conquer first place. Despite the challenge of racing against more experienced long-distance skiers, the 25-year-old Czech athlete managed to stay with the other competitors and took advantage of her climbing strength.

“It was a very well-organized race,” says Kateřina during a chat with ProXCSkiing.com. 

“The hardest part for me was the last flat section. During that part, the other girls were very fast using the double-poling technique, but I managed to stay behind them and then attacked on the last climb, thus getting the victory.”

This victory confirms that Kateřina is in a good phase of her career. Last winter, she had outstanding performances at the World Cup and the Winter Olympics in Beijing, with consistent top 30 finishes at distance races and top 15 at sprint races. 

“My best race was definitely the sprint in Lahti,” shares Kateřina, remembering the race in which she finished in the 11th position. “I was really enjoying the atmosphere of the race.”

Kateřina Janatová’s Best Summer Season So Far

The summer season has also been good for the Czech athlete. If everything goes as planned, Janatová believes that she will be able to show her potential next winter. 

“This summer has been the best one for me so far. I hope I’ll stay healthy and show my full potential next season. I trained between 15-20 more hours per month than in the previous seasons,” says Kateřina.

Now that the winter season is just around the corner, Janatová has already defined her goals for the season. 

“I am looking forward to race in Planica. It was one of my favorite places when I was a junior, and I have excellent memories of it. But I am also looking forward to the skating sprints.”

 Katerina has always been a strong sprinter, with good results during her career.

From Alpine to Cross-Country skiing

Kateřina Janatová is now one of the top skiers in the Czech Republic, where skiing is top-rated. But she hasn’t always been a cross-country skier. Before turning to cross-country, she was doing athletics and alpine skiing. 

However, when she turned 11 years old, Janatová fell in love with the ‘winter version of athletics’ and started doing cross-country skiing. 

“Choose the sport that you really like, and do not always follow what other people want,” she says.

But it was only when she was 23 years old that her best moment arrived, at the World Cup stage in Nové Město na Moravě.

“My best moment was at Nové Město na Moravě, when I had the best results in the distance, both classic and skating. Nobody would believe I could keep the pace until the finish, but I did and took the 13th place,” says Kateřina.

The season is just around the corner, and Kateřina seems in good shape and, most importantly, in an ascendent phase of her career, confirming that she will be one of the athletes to watch for the next season, especially in sprint races.