Petr Vakoč

2013 was Prague-born Vakoč's first year as a professional, riding for Etixx–IHNed, the development team of Omega Pharma–Quick-Step. In June, he won the Okolo Slovenska stage race at the age of 20. Vakoč's success continued when he won overall in the Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid sub-23, the under 23 version of the Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid. In August Vakoč won the 1.2 event Grand Prix Královéhradeckého kraje, five seconds ahead of Josef Hosek.

After Vakoč's successes in 2013, he was granted a contract for Omega Pharma–Quick-Step. He finished 10th overall and won a stage of the Tour de Pologne, a UCI World Tour event. He also placed second in both his nation's road race and time trial championship.

In 2015, Vakoč won the National Road Race Championships 11 seconds ahead of Leopold König. In May, he rode in his first Grand Tour, the Giro d'Italia. Vakoč finished the race in 116th place overall. Vakoč earned yet another victory when he won the Czech Cycling Tour, one of his nation's biggest cycling races. He also won a stage of the Tour of Britain. He competed for his nation at the European Games, earning a bronze medal in the road race.

Vakoč celebrated success in one day races during his fourth professional season, winning three major races; he won the Classic Sud-Ardèche and La Drôme Classic over successive days in February. In April, he booked his biggest victory yet at the Brabantse Pijl, a 1.HC race in Belgium. However, that would turn out to be his final professional win.[7] He was named in the start list for the 2016 Tour de France.[8]

In January 2018, Vakoč and team-mate Laurens De Plus suffered injuries whilst at a training camp in South Africa when they were hit by a truck: Vakoč sustained several broken vertebrae, which led to him undergoing spinal surgery and having to learn to walk again.[7] After spending 2018 recovering, he made his return to competition at the 2019 Vuelta a San Juan.[9]

Vakoč joined Alpecin–Fenix for the 2020 season.[10] He rode for the team in the 2021 Tour de France. In October 2021 he announced that he would retire from competition at the age of 29 after the Giro del Veneto that month.[7] The following February, Vakoč was announced to be a rider for UCI Mountain Bike Team Canyon Northwave, competing in marathon mountain bike races.[6]