Zdenek Stybar has struggled with form all season long, however this week he has returned to showing very good legs and being in contention to take big wins. However today after finishing second at the Tour of Leuven, it is mostly disappointment for the Czech rider.
“It’s disappointing because it’s the second time this week that I came close to taking the victory," Stybar said in a post-race interview. "At the same time, I’m also happy that I could be in this position to fight for a win. This morning the team told me they would pull for me, and this confidence they had in me was a major boost for me. It was a hard race and I gave my best during the day and in the break".
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Earlier this week he struck out at the Tour de Pologne, attacking in the final kilometers and being caught in sight of the line on stage four, and he showed the same explosiveness today in Leuven as he attacked with 25 kilometers to go together with Victor Campenaerts in what was the decisive move. The duo went on to fight for the win between themselves, with Stybar eventually not managing to take the win in the final sprint - which would be his first in over two and a half years.
"In the sprint it was always going to be 50/50, I did everything, but it wasn’t enough. As I said, there is a disappointment, but I am also satisfied with having the form to be up there," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Such a strong race! Proud of you, @zdenekstybar! #TourofLeuven
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