Getting acquainted with the car was almost effortless. Apart from familiarising himself with the ignition button and fine-tuning the adaptive cruise control settings, the transition was seamless. “Starting to drive did not take time at all,” says Markko.
As someone who usually travelled with a bike rather than passengers, Karu valued simplicity above all. Folding down the rear seats created more than enough room to transport his road bike without hassle. “The bike fitted comfortably in the luggage compartment,” he says, while adding that the available space was “more than sufficient” for all his riding gear. “I never felt limited.”
That practicality became particularly important during the busiest weeks of The Unseen Stage, when training equipment, spare clothing, and nutrition all had to travel with him from one session to the next. Instead of worrying about packing, he could focus on the ride ahead.
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The biggest surprise, however, came not from the luggage space but from the driving experience itself.
Most of Markko’s journeys involved long motorway drives to races and training events around Estonia, where comfort and driver assistance became invaluable. “I really appreciated the lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and distance-keeping functions,” he says. Those features transformed lengthy journeys into a far more relaxed experience, allowing him to arrive feeling fresher before getting on the bike. Even smaller details stood out. “I also liked the automatic windscreen wipers – they simply worked when needed,” he notes, highlighting the kind of thoughtful features that make a difference when spending hours on the road.
For cyclists, a support car often becomes an extension of the training routine. It carries the bike, protects expensive equipment, and helps riders reach the roads where the real work begins. Throughout his L’Étape preparation, the Škoda Octavia fulfilled that role with straightforward efficiency. “Everything worked reliably, and the handling was predictable. I’m generally not a fan of replacing physical buttons with touchscreen controls, but I adapted quickly,” summarises Markko.
So, could Markko see the Škoda Octavia fitting an endurance cyclist’s lifestyle? “Absolutely. I require a bike and enough time to ride, but the Octavia made getting to training rides and races easy and comfortable. It’s a practical companion for anyone who regularly travels with cycling equipment.”
Markko still has a few days left on his part of The Unseen Stage – also, there are two more Challengers to cheer on! Check out their progress, vote on their success and win a high-end Superior bicycle or a year-long subscription to TrainingPeaks.
