Czech champion outsprints Rob Peeters in changeable conditions
Halfway through his brief 2013/14 cyclocross season, Zdeněk Štybar (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) has got what he missed out on last winter: a win in an international competition. The Czech champion outsprinted Belgian Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) to win the Versluys Cyclocross, in Bredene, to the east of Ostend on the Belgian North Sea coast, after the two of them had broken away from the pack in what was an attritional race.
Dieter Vanthourenhout (BKCP-Powerplus) took his first podium position of the season. with third place, as many of the sport’s big hitters chose to sit out the C2-ranked race.
“It was both a fast and technical race,” Stybar said afterwards. “There were two scenarios. The course was dry when we started, making it fast, but it started to rain causing a bit of mud. That changed the traction and made it more difficult and slippery. That’s when the race became technical.
“During the race the group became smaller and smaller, and then in the last lap Peeters attacked,” Štybar continued. “I was able to close the gap, but in the last corner at 150 meters from the finish I lost contact with Peeters briefly.
“But I gave everything. In my head it was all or nothing at that point. There was a headwind, which helped me to come back to Peeters and win the race.
Aside from the charity “Tom Boonen and Friends” race for road riders, which he won on December 1st, Štybar had not yet taken a victory in his brief 2013/14 cyclocross season. So far, the Czech champion has been animated for much of each of his contests to date, but has not been able to translate this into big results.
He took third place in the World Cup race in Zolder, Belgium, on Boxing day, but could only manage fifth place in Loenhout the following day. The Czech champion took victory in his third race in as many days, however, and faced a fourth in four at the Superprestige Diegem the following day.
“I am a bit surprised but really happy about this victory It is important to me,” Štybar said. “I would like to thank the supporters who were here at this race and every race so far It’s always nice to come back to this environment and have good results.
“Tomorrow I will have my fourth race in a row, which is a first for me. I am curious to see how my body will react.”
Result
1. Zdeněk Štybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
2. Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea
3. Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus
4. Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus
5. Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet-Fidea
6. Jonathan Page (USA) Fuji-Spy
7. Robert Gavenda (Svk) Dukla Trencin-Trek
8. Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Crelan-KDL
9. Martin Haring (Svk)
10. Stijn Huys (Bel) Orange Babies Cycling Team