Double world cyclo-cross champion Zdenek Stybar is embarking on the next step of his career, and from this moment onwards he’ll be part of the Belgian Quick Step team. His strength and agility in cross racing led many to speculate that he’d have a big role to play in the Classics, but he’ll miss them this season in order to give him extra time to prepare for what he hopes will be a big year on the road.
“I'm going to start competing in the month of May,” he said. “My main goal in this first year on road will be to understand how to act on asphalt. I've got a lot to learn but fortunately I'm on a major team, surrounded by athletes and staff with tons of experience that are going to help me on this journey.”
Stybar is just 25 years of age, yet has already taken silver medals in the cross worlds in 2008 and 2009, then gold medal in the two years since. His dominance led to Quick Step’s interest, and this was compounded when a majority stake in the team’s management company Esperanza was bought by Czech billionaire Zdenek Bakala and Dutch businessman Bessel Kok in November.
He’s seen as someone who could carve out a very successful road career, as has Lars Boom, and was an inevitable target for Bakala due to their shared nationality.
“Personally it's a dream come true,” said Stybar when the signing was announced in January. “I'm very happy and excited to race with team Quick Step, one of the best team in the world. This is an important step in my professional life that will offer me many opportunities and open doors for me into the professional world.
“I've won a lot in cyclocross but I really wanted to try this experience. I'm 25 years old, and right now it's time for me to try to understand what I can do on the road. This doesn't mean I'll be quitting cross. I love this sport and intend to keep at it.”
Donning Quick Step colours:
The Belgian team today released the first images of its new acquisition in team colours. He was contracted to Fidea until now, and so March 1st is the first chance for him to display the blue and white strip. He said that he’s looking forward to getting started.
“As of today I'm officially an integral part of the team. After a period of rest, these next few days I'm going to start training on the road. To wear this jersey, even just for the photo shoot, was very exciting. I can't wait to wear the team colours on the road, too.”
Cross fans needn’t despair, though, as he said that he will continue to compete in those events. It’ll require a careful balancing of his calendar in order to ensure that he isn’t over-raced, but the intention is there. “We still haven't worked out an official schedule, but I think I'll be able to combine both activities well,” he said. “If I manage my training right I can be competitive in cross, and as of next year, on the road, too.”
Although he’ll miss the Spring Classics this year, his characteristics mean that races such as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix could suit him well. The most successful rider in the history of the latter event, Roger de Vlaeminck, won the Classic in 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1977, and also took Flanders in the final year of that sequence. He was a successful cross rider too, winning the worlds in 1975.