Ilkka Jarva has been named head coach of the Czech cross-country skiing team ©Czech Ski Association

Ilkka Jarva has been tasked with revitalising the fortunes of the Czech cross-country skiing team after being appointed as their head coach.

Finland's Jarva will be supported by local coaches, who will be responsible for the day-to-day work with athletes.

"The main goals are to see what can be done in the Olympics, so we can have a good performance at Pyeongchang 2018," Lukas Sacher, the Czech Ski Association sports director, said.

"And a longer-term horizon is another Olympics, where young athletes like Petr Knop, Michal Novák, Katka Berouskova and Bara Havlickova could be a strong generation."

Jarva, a 36-year-old coach, has spent the past 13 years helping to develop Finland's junior athletes.

He will spend around 150 days a year with the Czech team.

Lukas Bauer is among the leading Czech skiers to have recently retired from the sport ©Getty Images
Lukas Bauer is among the leading Czech skiers to have recently retired from the sport ©Getty Images

"After 13 years of working as a cross-country ski coach in Finland I feel really excited to work with the Czech team," said Jarva.

"There are many young athletes and young coaches so we have a lot of energy to work hard.

"Hard work is the only way to succeed in our sport.

"I would like coaches and athletes to find a Czech way of success."

The Czech team are viewed to be undergoing a generational change, with several of their leading athletes bringing their careers to a close.

This includes Lukas Bauer, whose career came to an end at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

Bauer won 18 World Cup races, two World Championship silvers and three Olympic medals.

He secured a silver medal at Turin 2006, before winning two bronzes at Vancouver 2010.