Stybar likely to race Cyclocross World Championships - "I'm on holiday first and I'm going to really enjoy that"

Zdenek Stybar has enjoyed his return to Cyclocross with a win in a race in Slovakia in his first weekend, and against higher level competition he also enjoyed a popular return, finishing in 17th position in his home World Cup of Tabor where the best were present. Time has come for him to recover from a long season however.

“I'm on holiday first and I'm going to really enjoy that – after a long season with many setbacks," Stybar revealed to Wielerflits. "After my holiday I start again, to then race again after the Christmas period. I would also like to race in the new year. I will decide in mid-January whether I will contest the World Championships in Hoogerheide," he reveals.

Stybar has shared his interest in returning to the discipline, likely in light of recent extreme success from several other riders in the peloton. A former World Champion in the discipline, he has mad the obvious choice of returning - with a move to Team BikeExchange - Jayco unlikely to change his plans for the coming months.

He recently finished the Nacht van Woerden in 12th place. “It was a really difficult cross. There were a bit too many turns in the course for me. I was sweating, but my heart rate was at training level. I couldn't really ride anywhere," he commented. Lars van der Haar won the night-time race, beating Quinten Hermans and Ryan Kamp who enjoyed strong results in a more modest startlist field.

“I tried a few times to sprint to the corners, but once up to speed I had to brake again. I really liked it a lot. This is the second time I've been here at the start. The first time I believe was with the promises. It is very special to race in the dark. There was a good atmosphere, especially with the fair. It was a fun cross," he admitted however.

Stybar is aware of what needs to be improved in the coming months if he is to chase higher results. “It's really corner to corner here and I'm not really good at that. I have lost too much technical baggage in all those years. However, I do need this cross for the upcoming cyclocross races. I will also really have to work on my technique during training. I'm still braking too much at the moment. This cross was therefore a nice challenge. As a technique training, this was very good," he concluded.