"I founded my own team, with my own sponsors" - Zdenek Stybar confirms he races with new colours from January 1st

Zdenek Stybar is reaching the end of his pro career, but before that he has undertaken a significant effort to keep racing this cyclocross season. With the ultimate goal of racing and preparing for the World Championships in the Czech Republic, the veteran confirms that he succeeded in creating his own team for the purpose.

"The legs were actually good. It is difficult for me to find the rhythm, because I have to ride alone for a large part of the race. I actually need someone in front of me to push me, so that I have to ride against the limit in terms of technique and the heavier sections," Stybar told In de Leiderstrui following the Exact Cross Loenhout. "I really enjoyed the supporters, the people kept shouting. That was beautiful. I regularly had to laugh a little, because I heard my name so much. On the last lap I also realized it would be the last time, so that was nice."

So far, the 38-year old's results are likely enough for him to confirm a spot in the world's lineup for the Czech team, as it races at home. It is the ultimate goal of the former World Champion before he hangs up his bike. He may become a team DS in the future, but for the time being he is still fully focused on a specific objective.

''I'm actually doing everything I can to get to the start in Tábor in the best possible way. That's not going to be to win, but I just want to end my career in good condition and with a good feeling, knowing that I did everything I could for one last time. I have done that my entire career and I don't suddenly want to do that less now," he says.

"In all the hustle and bustle, I had to arrange everything at the last minute. I founded my own team, with my own sponsors," Stybar confirms, with his new colours to be announced soon. "That was a very nice experience, but also quite difficult. I had to do everything between training sessions. I trained four to six hours a day and then had to spend the other six to eight hours on phone calls, emails and things like that."

“Now almost everything has worked. It certainly wasn't how I wanted it, but it will be fine. I didn't know until late that I wouldn't be able to extend with Jayco AlUla, I only received that confirmation before the Tour of Guangxi. After I returned from China, I also followed the team DS course in Switzerland. I also lost time, so to speak, but it was all very educational. Is it something for after my career? Maybe, but first I want to invest time in my family. They go first," he concludes.