"I fear that I don't have enough time left to become the best version of myself" - Zdenek Stybar on the path to try and reach cyclocross World Championships in best possible form
Cyclocross
Zdenek Stybar is in a race against time. He's started his 2023-2024 season in cyclocross last weekend in Essen with a modest performance, and now he looks to improve as much as possible until the World Championships where he hopes to have a beautiful goodbye from pro cycling.
“It was so much fun. Honestly? It was a shock to the system, because I hadn't done any proper cross training yet. I still have to build up my general fitness, because after all those annoying injuries I still have too much of a backlog," Stybar told Wielerflits. “That won't happen until after Christmas. Maybe already in Gavere, otherwise in Zolder." The Czech rider has decades of experience in the discipline but naturally, over the past few years others have taken over the reigns on the ground. Stybar now fights for minor places but has the motivation to aim as high as possible.
The World Championships taking place in his home country are a huge factor when it comes to delaying his retirement, and he looks to build form throughout the winter. That may be a tough task however: “True, but time is ticking away mercilessly. My big problem: I fear that I don't have enough time left to become the best version of myself. I'm doing my best and of course I want to shine at the World Championships."
"But I still have fifty days to do that. I work primarily on volume. It has been true throughout my career that this type of training is good for my fitness. But we also focus on intensity... The World Championships in Tábor is the farewell race I dreamed of. That's mainly what I'm thinking about right now."
His contract with Team Jayco AlUla ends on the 31st of December. Until then he'll race with the Australian team's jersey but he will then have his own project which he will race under. He tells that he's the one ctually starting up a team. "From January 1st I have to start my own team. There is still a lot of energy involved. Actually, I am a professional cyclist and also a manager. That now requires just as much effort as my training.”
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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.
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- disagreed. in this year's tdf he was unable to ride away from the young guns in the stages before his crash. there were several riders at least close to, if not on, his level in the second week: seixas, remco, del toro, lipo. next year jonas is a year older and the younger riders gained a year of experience and strength. if you then try to skip part of the high altitude training ... i doubt that jonas will make the podium at tdf 27. for sure he is not the favourite for runner up. he will be in the mix, yes. but not THE favourite for 2nd place.Ketterechts15-11-2026
- That means you're Austrian, like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was born close to Gradc, very close to Maribor. We used to do a lot of shopping in Gradc in the 70's and 80's, when Slovenia was still a part of communist Yugoslavia. Today we have good relationships with the Austrians. Many Slovenians are working there.PogiSloFans15-11-2026
- headline criticism agreed. but otherwise he certainly has a point. you can negotiate extra perks if you are way above he rest ... however, these times have long gone ...Ketterechts15-11-2026
- WTF is Pogi's hater Zonneveld talking about??? He was against Pogi waving to Slovenian fans from an organisation car as fans caught a glimpse of Pogi at the European Championships in Slovenia. The S.O.B. couldn't resist poking fun at his attention-grabbing appearance. What Zonneveld says has no relevance.PogiSloFans15-11-2026
- ❤️Lozza15-11-2026
- The greatest ever is a crazy claim. But in discussions about sport in our local media, among people with no particular interest in cycling, he has been the first person they've thought of when giving examples of exceptional athletes.Hills3315-11-2026
- Urska may be less keen on a cafe if keeping it afloat will fall to her, so maybe just a nice dream!Hills3315-11-2026
- Raise thine hand if the money you have made for retirement slips away on poor investments.Most of us will outlive our financial comforts because we don't have the financial acumen to ensure a comfortable lifelong retirement and that is a statistical fact not my opinion.Many millionaires have pissed their money away or had it taken away by so called conniving "financial advisors".The world of wealth is a dangerous place that most of us will never experience nor appreciate.
Brucegel15-11-2026 - You are interested in Pogi for one reason only, you feel like you are somehow related because you share some vague geographical identity. Other than that you have very little interest in cycling as all your posts show, if it can’t be connected to Pogi you have nothing to post. That said, recent activity here shows we are attracting quite a crowd from his region.Jumpyjohn15-11-2026
- From knowing past cycling stars with shops I can only say, think it through. Not only is it mundane after a while but it really doesn’t take you out of the limelight, in the end you’ll be trying to stay away from the place yourself whilst all your fans keep coming for you.Jumpyjohn15-11-2026
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Wilierflits interview with Zdeněk Štybar Q: Can you remember the last time you were at your very best? A: I think of the World Cup in Leuven Sitting 2nd behind Wout when Alaphilippe went 21km out🚀 Blasting away from the chasers w/20km remaining 🇨🇿 Štyby made it look easy 💪
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