Zdenek Stybar had hoped that a training camp in the cycling Mecca of Mallorca would get him back on the winning track in the cyclocross competition. Instead, a mishap while running on the beach cost him a start in the cross race in Niel, Belgium, on Thursday. The reigning world champion hopes to be back in action on Sunday, for the Superprestige race in Hamme-Zogge.
Stybar suffers from back problems, providing a painful end to his training camp in Palma de Mallorca. On doctor's order he will have to rest in order to have a chance to ride the Superprestige race in Hamme-Zogge on Sunday.
He is flying back home to Belgium Wednesday night. "While I was running on the beach of Playa de Palma I felt a sudden sting in my lower back and had pain down to my left knee. It's really unfortunate, but I have to rest in order to make it to Hamme-Zogge. On Thursday I'm going straight to Wim, my physiotherapist," Stybar announced on his website.
Stybar had a dominating cyclocross season so far, winning eight out of the first nine races he entered, with the one lost race not counting towards any of the three big cyclocross competitions (Superprestige, World Cup, and GvA Trofee). His first 'real' defeat came a good week ago, when Sven Nys won the Koppenbergcross.