September 15th, 2025
In a daring display of bravery an American tourist known only as "The Hammer" to his fellow cyclists saved the group from a dangerous gang of thugs. On day two of a seven day cycling tour from Prague to Vienna the visitors were halted by a roadblock. Manning the blockade was a crew led by Dominik Jaroslav. Jaroslav had been recently released from a six month term for armed robbery. The bandits demanded the tourists turn over their wallets, jewelry, and other valuables. They started moving to comply when a voice from the back of the group called out "not on my watch!". A bike came shooting out from the peloton and crashed into the assembled thieves, toppling them like so many pins on a well thrown strike. Only Jaroslav stood back up and challenged the brave biker and the two traded blows in a brief flurry before Dominik also surrendered.
"The Hammer" then kept watch over the criminals until the authorities arrived to take them into custody. Out hero initially declined medical attention, saying only that he would rub some dirt on it to stop the bleeding. After the medics insisted he relented, but declined the offer of anesthesia for the multiple stitches required to close the knife wound Jaroslav had inflicted.
When reached for comment, the tour leader said "I have never seen such courageous action taken with no thought for their own personal safety". Asked the hero's true name, the leader replied "In our initial tour meet and greet he asked only to be known as 'The Hammer' in order to protect us. He never said what it would protect us from and we found it an odd request, but agreed".
"The Hammer" declined to be interview for this article. Jaroslav and his gang are being held behind bars pending a preliminary hearing.
