{"id":194910,"date":"2024-02-01T15:31:52","date_gmt":"2024-02-01T15:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=194910"},"modified":"2024-02-01T15:32:15","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T15:32:15","slug":"cycling-legend-zdenek-stybar-rides-last-race-in-cross-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2024\/02\/01\/cycling-legend-zdenek-stybar-rides-last-race-in-cross-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycling Legend Zden\u011bk \u0160tybar Rides Last Race in Cross World Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday\u2019s Cyclo-cross Elite Men\u2019s World Championship will be notable not only for crowning a new world champion but it will also be the last race of cyclo-cross and road racing legend Zden\u011bk \u0160tybar. The 38-year-old Czech will retire from cycling after having won three Elite men\u2019s cyclo-cross world championships (2010, 2011, 2014) and two U-23 world titles (2005, 2006).<\/strong><\/p>\n

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From 2011 to 2022, he was also an important member of the Quick-Step team that chalked up more wins than any other team in that period, almost entirely in one-day races, such as Grand Tour stages, the Classics, and world and national championships. In that period, in addition to his many cyclo-cross victories, \u0160tybar won a stage of the Tour de France (2015) and three Classics, the Strade Bianche (2015), the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the E3 BinckBank Classic (both in 2019).<\/p>\n

We spoke to the native of Plan\u00e1 by phone as he was returning by car from his final cyclo-cross World Cup race, in Hoogerheide, for which he wore a special jersey on which \u201cthank you\u201d had been printed in many languages. \u201cIt was special,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause it was my last World Cup race.\u201d He finished 27th, 3:13 behind the winner, Mathieu van der Poel.<\/p>\n

For \u0160tybar, who still sets himself a high bar, the result was disappointing. \u201cTo be honest, I expected a bit more but I had some technical issues directly after the start. And I\u2019m always starting from the last rows, which makes it quite difficult for me. I did expect more because the shape is good.\u201d \u0160tybar added that he has done everything he could do \u201cto be in the best shape possible for the world championships.<\/a> So I hope that with some days of rest, the shape will come and I\u2019ll be able to perform at a good level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked which discipline he prefers, cyclo-cross or road racing, he said, \u201cBoth because both have different characteristics.\u201d He liked cyclo-cross \u201cbecause you\u2019re in one place for a cyclo-cross race, so you can enjoy it more with your family and your supporters,\u201d he said. \u201cBut on the road, it\u2019s from the hotel to the bus and from the bus to the race and then back to the hotel. But with road racing, you\u2019re racing as a team, which is also good. I think I took some great memories from both disciplines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Zden\u011bk<\/a>
The 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross Elite Men\u2019s World Championship will be notable not only for crowning a new world champion but it will also be the last race of cyclo-cross and road racing legend Zden\u011bk \u0160tybar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n