In the event's 12th edition, the international four-stage under-23 race, part of the Nations Cup, brought 22 national teams and 128 participants to North Moravia.
They were faced with a stage of 168 kilometres as well as an elevation gain of 2,552 metres over two Category 2 climbing premiums right at the start.
"It was extremely difficult today, especially on the cobbles it was very slippery, it was not easy at all," said Pridal. "It was very windy all day, we had to be alert all the time."
The winner of the stage echoed the same sentiment: "It was quite dangerous at times, especially here at the finish," explained Loulergue.
After nine kilometres, a trio of riders broke away from the peloton including German Cedric Abt, Italian Riccardo Lorello and Colombian Freddy Avila. They spent almost the whole day in solitude, with their lead rising to six minutes at one point.
"I thought the breakaway was pretty much under control," said Pridal.
After the first climbing premium of this year's Peace Race in Lhotka near Litultovice, where Abt scored the most points, the peloton began its pursuit and the trio's advantage began to drop quickly, mainly thanks to the British team, while the Czechs were also active.
Lorello, the Italian rider, was the first to cross the speed break in Vítkov and was named the most active rider of the stage for his work in the breakaway, as well as at the end of the day.
At the second summit of the stage in Kozlov, Abt was first again and will therefore begin the second stage wearing the polka dot jersey of the best climber.
This suits him well, as he already became king of the mountains in the category 2 stage race Around Brittany at the beginning of May this year.
Thirty-seven kilometres short of the finish line, the main group finally swallowed the escapees after a 120km chase and the winner had to be decided by two circuits through Sternberk, the traditional finishing town of the Czech Tour.
This time the cobbles of Radnicni Street belonged to the Frenchman Loulergue, who will thus take the yellow jersey from Unicov to Rymarov in the second stage.
"Tomorrow is a sprinter's finish, we will definitely go for Dan Mraz and our goal is not to lose any more time and ideally try to attack somewhere," added Pridal.
Second place today was taken in the same time by Spaniard Pau Marti, third by Italian Simone Gualdi.