Cycling was extremely popular in post-war Europe, and the Peace Race was bigger even than the Tour de France.

Veselý's humility, allied to his sporting prowess, made him a genuine national hero.

His duels with the great East German rider Gustav-Adolf ("Täve") Schur were amongst the highlights of the sporting year, his popularity comparable to that of the great runner Emil Zátopek in Czechoslovakia.

He competed in the individual and team road race events at the 1952 Summer Olympics.

[1] His brother Josef was also a competitive road cyclist and won a national title in 1943.