Zdenek Stybar will still be a cyclist for a little more than one month. The Czech rider's contract with Jayco AIUIa expires on January 1st, meaning he must bridge the period between then and the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tábor as a one-man team. He told IDLProCycling.com all about what it took to make that happen in recent months.
We spoke with the ever-cheerful Stybar after the cross in Loenhout, where he had just finished thirteenth. "There was a crash at the start, and I found myself right in the middle of that. I had to chase from the very beginning, but I knew I shouldn't go too hard. Otherwise, I would exhaust myself right away, so I actually maintained the same pace throughout the race. My legs were actually pretty good. For me, it's difficult to find the rhythm because I have to ride a large part of the race alone. I actually need someone in front of me to push me, so I have to ride at the limit in terms of technique and through the tougher sections."
Did Stybar notice the many spectators in Loenhout chanting his nickname, Styby, en masse? "I really enjoyed the fans. People just kept shouting. That was very beautiful. It made me laugh a bit at times because I heard my name so often. During the last lap, I realized it would be the last time, so that was nice," Stybar mused.
The goal on the horizon for Stybar is, of course, the Cyclo-cross World Championships in his home country, on February 4th. "I'm actually doing everything I can to appear at the starting line in Tábor as well-prepared as possible. It’s not about winning, but I want to end my career in good form and with a good feeling, knowing that I have given it my all one last time. I have done this throughout my career, and I don’t want to do anything less than that now."
Starting from January 1st, he will do so wearing a different jersey. "In between all the hustle and bustle, I had to arrange everything at the last minute," he says. "I set up my own team, with my own sponsors. It was a very enjoyable experience, but also quite difficult. I had to do everything in 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 such..."
"Now almost everything has worked out," Stybar concludes, seeming satisfied. "It was certainly not how I wanted it, but it's going to be okay. I only found out pretty late that I couldn’t extend my contract with Jayco AlUla. I got that confirmation just before the Tour of Guangxi. After returning from China, I also took the team director course in Switzerland. That cost me some time, so to speak, but it was all very educational. Is it something I might pursue after my pro career? Maybe, but first, I want to spend time with my family. They come first."