Ride your bike anytime during the challenge period from September 28 to October 28, in two categories:

Challenger

Ride the 19.18 kilometer course from Georgetown to Great Falls, record your ride and compare your time with others!

! WARNING ! Due to restrictions on the trail, this year's route starts at the beginning of the Capital Crescent Trail in Georgetown (see map). After three kilometers, remember to connect to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath (see photos) and continue along the original route.
 

Construction

Connect to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath

Commuter

Don't live in Washington or want to bike less than 19.18 kilometers? Commuter is right for you! Organize a ride with your community or ride your bike alone during the challenge period and share a picture of your ride with us (email: czechembassybikechallenge@gmail.com or Facebook/Instagram: @czechembassydc, #czechembassybikechallenge). If you can, add something Czech to the photo - it can be the Czech flag, your favorite Czech landmark - it's up to you!

The top five participants in the Challenger category will be awarded diplomas and tasty beer kits or a special Embassy gift bag for participants under 21.

In the Commuter category, the Embassy will award the best submitted photos with a special gift bag.

Time:

Anytime from September 28 to October 28, 2025

Where:

For Commuters:

Anywhere in the US

For Challengers:
Start: Capital Crescent Trail (road trail) in Georgetown under the Key Bridge (map)

Finish: Mile 13 Marker at the Great Falls on Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath – before Lock 15 (map)

Map of the entire 19.18 km (~12m) track from Georgetown to the Great Falls

Video of the track: 3D video

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CHALLENGER CATEGORY:

Czech Embassy Bike Challenge is open to everyone!

1) Register on Eventbrite at https://czechembassybikechallenge2025.eventbrite.com.
Please note, you must click the "registration" button and then complete the order by filling out your Strava app profile name and age. Then click "complete order."

2) Become a member of the "Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 19.18" club on the Strava tracking app.

3) Log your ride in the Strava app. Don't forget to press the record button at the start of the route.

About Strava tracking
Strava is a web-based human physical activity tracking service that includes social networking features. It is most commonly used for cycling and running using GPS data. A free Strava membership is all you need to participate in the challenge. The Czech Embassy has created a 19.18km route on Strava (a segment of the Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 2025) from Georgetown to Great Falls. By registering for the challenge and becoming a member of the "Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 19.18" club, the Czech Embassy will be able to filter the results of challenge participants with other cyclists who ride the same route. There is no official cooperation between Strava and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C., and the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C. cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of the tracking system.

Final results
The Strava app will automatically update the "Czech Embassy Bike Challenge 19.18" club's joint leaderboard based on a record of all results. This is a friendly challenge, everyone's participation is encouraged and one final ranking will be announced after the challenge.

Why 19.18 km?
The year 1918 brought independence to the Czech nation. That year, future President Tomas Garrigue Masaryk and incumbent US President Woodrow Wilson shared a friendship and a vision that changed the map of Europe forever.

On October 28, a sovereign, democratic state was established. The Czech Embassy's Cycling Challenge pays tribute to the historic year of independence through a 19.18km route and encourages everyone to look for the Czech connection in the United States!

DISCLAIMER
By registering, you confirm that you intend to participate in the Czech Embassy Bike Challenge ("Challenge") at your own risk. The Challenge does not constitute an official race, as the Czech Embassy in Washington, DC, ("Embassy") is solely providing a shared leaderboard for those who volunteer to time bike a ride of their choice or a segment created in the Strava app. The created segment is an open route that includes other cyclists, hikers, runners, and walkers. It is imperative that all participants in the challenge abide by all applicable laws and regulations as well as bicycle friendly behavior. There is an inherent risk in conducting activities away from your home. You and all family members and guests voluntarily assume all risks associated with the Challenge and agree not to hold the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Embassy, or any of their diplomats, staff, contractors, affiliates, employees, agents or volunteers, responsible for any illness, injury or death in connection with the Challenge.