The connection between Škoda and cycling goes back to the very beginnings of the company. 130 years ago, company founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement began producing bicycles under the Slavia brand before later moving into car manufacturing. The Czech car manufacturer is now picking up on this historical connection with a special project: the Škoda L&K 130, a support vehicle specially designed for cycling.
The tenth trainee car from the Škoda vocational school in Mladá Boleslav (Czech Republic) was developed and built by 28 trainees. In more than 2000 hours of work, they transformed a Škoda Superb Combi into a functional escort vehicle with a pick-up-like structure. The name L&K 130 commemorates the company's founders and its 130-year history.
The special gold, red and black colour scheme and the classic Laurin & Klement logo on the bonnet, wheel hubs and steering wheel pay homage to the company's first cars from 1905.
The vehicle was on display for the first time at the 112th Tour de France and is intended to emphasise Škoda's position as the official main partner of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift until 2028.
Body modifications for cycling use
The trainees have made extensive changes to the body of the Superb Combi to transform it into a functional support vehicle for cycle races. The estate roof was cut off behind the C-pillars and the body parts of the remaining passenger cabin were reinforced. The B- and C-pillars were adapted and the roof rails shortened. A new rear cabin wall with rear window separates the interior from the open loading area.
The right-hand rear door is particularly innovative, as it has been equipped with a newly developed lift-and-slide mechanism. This design enables the door to be opened safely even when professional cyclists pass close to the vehicle, as the door does not swing open outwards in the traditional manner.
The trainees designed this mechanism in close collaboration with experts from the company's development department. This solution addresses a specific problem in cycling races, where support vehicles often have to operate in close proximity to the athletes.
Bicycle carrier test
Innovative loading area for quick wheel access
The centrepiece of the conversion is the new, low-positioned loading area, which takes the place of the original luggage compartment. Together with the new tailgate, this can be extended to the rear at the touch of a button from the inside or outside using a unique rack-and-pinion mechanism.
This design makes it possible to unload a spare bike for a racer quickly and at a comfortable height during a race. Two standard bike carriers from the original Škoda accessories are installed on the platform. When the platform is retracted with the tailgate, the carriers with the bikes slide upwards to an angle of 35 degrees, and the vehicle retains the same length as the original Škoda Superb Combi.
A third bike can be transported on a roof rack. This well thought-out design makes the L&K 130 an ideal support vehicle for professional cycling races, where quick access to spare bikes can be crucial without the vehicle's dimensions getting in the way of racing.
Plug-in hybrid drive for environmentally conscious support
The Škoda L&K 130 is the first apprentice car with a plug-in hybrid drive. This was adopted unchanged from the Škoda Superb Combi iV and combines a 1.5 TSI petrol engine with 110 kW (150 PS) and an electric motor to produce a system output of 150 kW (204 PS). The high-voltage battery with a gross capacity of 25.7 kWh enables a sufficient electric range for use as a support vehicle in cycle races.
Thanks to the purely electric mode, the vehicle can operate emission-free in the vicinity of the professional cyclists, which is particularly advantageous on uphill climbs where the athletes should not be exposed to exhaust fumes.
The plug-in hybrid drive also offers the necessary flexibility for longer transfers between stages where the combustion engine can be used. This drive solution fits in perfectly with the growing environmental awareness in cycling and the efforts of organisers to reduce the ecological impact of major events.
Functional interior for professional cycling teams
The interior is dominated by the classic L&K colours of red, white, gold and black on the seats, door panels and dashboard. The materials used are recyclable. A "130 years" logo is embroidered into the covers of the front sports seats.
The trainees have integrated numerous special features to meet the needs of a professional cycling team. An additional display on the passenger side of the dashboard shows data that is required to support the racing drivers. This data is always up to date thanks to a permanent internet connection. A radio has been installed for communication within the team.
Instead of the left-hand rear seat, there is a large cool box for the professional cyclists' water bottles. The 12 V battery is located behind the rear seats. A large net under the roof liner provides storage space for small items such as energy bars or bandages.
The service technician in the right-hand rear seat has his own display on the back of the front passenger seat. Many equipment details were produced using 3D printing technology, including the brackets for the storage net and various logos.
Škoda and its cycling tradition
Škoda's connection to cycling goes back to the very beginnings of the company. In 1895, cycling enthusiasts Václav Laurin and Václav Klement began developing and manufacturing bicycles under the name Slavia. This enthusiasm for cycling has remained part of the brand's DNA to this day and is reflected in its support for numerous international cycling races.
Škoda Auto is the official main partner of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift until 2028. The collaboration with the sports organisers A.S.O. and Unipublic covers a total of 20 international cycling races, including the Tour of Spain La Vuelta and the Belgian and French one-day classics La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Paris-Roubaix.
The L&K 130 is therefore not only a technically impressive apprentice project, but also a symbol of the historical connection between Škoda and cycling, which the company is continuously cultivating and developing.
Insight into training at Škoda
The tradition of vocational education and training at Škoda's headquarters in Mladá Boleslav has existed for almost 100 years. Škoda founded its vocational school back in 1927. Since 1991, it has been a private institution of Škoda Auto and is now part of the Škoda Academy, which opened in 2013.
The school began with 58 trainees in its first year and has produced more than 24,000 graduates to date. By the 2024/25 school year, the number of students will have risen to more than 750. The Škoda Vocational School currently offers three and four-year training programmes. The three-year courses end with a final examination and a journeyman's certificate, while the four-year courses end with a vocational baccalaureate.
After successfully completing the programme, many graduates continue their training at a university of applied sciences or university or join Škoda Auto directly. The company offers every graduate an employment contract. "The tenth Azubi Car continues a proud and long-standing tradition of the Škoda Academy. This high-calibre project is an important part of our vocational training and a strong expression of our commitment to promoting young talent. Spectacular one-offs such as the Škoda L&K 130 demonstrate the creativity, skills and curiosity of our trainees year after year," explains Maren Gräf, Škoda Auto Board Member for People & Culture.
Technical specifications: Škoda L&K 130
- Basis: Škoda Superb Combi
- Drive: Plug-in hybrid with 1.5 TSI petrol engine (110 kW/150 PS) and electric motor
- System performance: 150 kW (204 hp)
- Battery: High-voltage battery with 25.7 kWh gross capacity
- Bodywork: Modified pick-up structure
- Special equipment: Two standard bike racks on the cargo bed, one roof rack
- Special functions: Sliding door at rear right, electrically extendable load floor with rack and pinion mechanism
- Interior fittings: Additional displays, radio, cool box for drinks bottles, storage net under the roof liner
- Colouring: Gold, red, black
