Jan Smolík

During the 1960s Jan Smolík was one of the best amateur road cyclists in Czechoslovakia. After winning back-to-back editions of the Tour of Czechoslovakia in 1962 and 1963, Smolík then won the Peace Race in 1964, including taking three individual stages. That same year he was selected to ride in the road race at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing 71st in the main peloton, only 0.2 seconds behind the race winner.

In 1965 Smolík won his only national road race title but continued to have success across Europe, including further stages in the Peace Race, along with a stage of the Tour of Bulgaria, the Tour of Austria, and the Tour of Slovakia. In 1968 he made his second appearance at the Olympics, finishing 23rd in the road race at the Mexico City Games. His last major race came in 1971, placing ninth overall in the Milk Race in England.