Tour de France trophy 2025: Czech-made design features bold new elements
A partnership born of passion for glass
The collaboration between Lasvit and the Tour de France began in 2011 thanks to a personal connection between Peter Olah and the Czech company based in Nový Bor. “So this happened already 14 years ago, when we were approached by the trophy designer, Peter Olah, who’s the designer of one of the partners of Tour de France,” explains Lasvit spokeswoman Anna Minaříková. “And he knows Lasvit very well, because he himself loves glass and has collaborated with us on a number of projects.”
Olah, who is Slovak, has a background in product and automobile design. Over the years, he has developed a distinctive silhouette for the trophy, inspired by the flow and motion of a cycling peloton. “He created the iconic shape of the trophy, which is inspired by the peloton of the cyclists. And each year he creates a new finish of the trophy, a new cutting,” says Minaříková.
Emerald green and crystal clarity
The 2025 trophies introduce two major updates, especially for the version awarded in the points classification. “So we have developed a new color of the green, which may sound easy, but in glass making, colors are actually one of the most difficult parts,” says Minaříková. “It’s all very much an alchemy of materials. And it’s very difficult to achieve a very specific color.”
The result is a deep, rich “emerald green,” developed specifically for this year’s edition. Adding to the challenge, Lasvit glassmakers inserted a clear crystal ring into the body of the green trophy—a technical feat requiring the trophy to be cut and seamlessly reassembled.
Six months, five artisans, and a pursuit of perfection
While the trophy’s shape remains the same, the yearly redesigns make each edition unique. Creating one takes months of preparation and a small team of skilled artisans. “It takes about six months to develop the new trophy. So as I mentioned, the shape remains the same, but every year we create a new finish,” Minaříková explains.
The process begins with hand-blowing the glass at Lasvit’s workshop and continues through multiple prototypes to refine the cut. “You need at least three people for the hand blowing and then about two people for the glass cutting techniques,” she adds.
A moment of pride on the world stage
Being part of the world’s most-watched cycling race is more than just a branding opportunity for Lasvit—it’s a source of pride and motivation for everyone involved. “Being at the heart of such a global culture moment is major,” says Minaříková. “And it’s something that is super important for the leadership of the company, but also for each of the glass makers who wake up super early in the morning, work weeks on the hand cut finish, and then seeing their product, something that they created with their own hands on TV is massive.”
She sees a poetic connection between the discipline of sport and the art of glassmaking. “I see many parallels between glass making and sports. It really aligns with the values of vision, resilience, perfection, or at least chasing perfection and complete efficiency of movements and a lot of sweat, of course, as well.”
Video of LASVIT – TOUR DE FRANCE 2016 TROPHY
Looking ahead
The partnership between Lasvit and the Tour de France continues to thrive, with new ideas already in the works. “Absolutely. It’s something that is a long-term partnership,” confirms Minaříková. “And I’m pretty sure Peter Olah, the designer, already has an idea for next year. He hasn’t shared it yet, but already in autumn, he will be sending us his first sketches.”
As millions around the world watch the final sprint to the Champs-Élysées, few may realize the months of craftsmanship, innovation, and Czech artistry that go into each gleaming trophy held aloft by the winners. But for Czech glassmakers, it’s another opportunity to show that beauty, like victory, is earned through dedication and detail.
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