The knee problems that have been plaguing World cyclocross champion Zdenek Stybar (Telenet-Fidea) for the past two weeks appear to be getting no better. The Czech rider admitted via the team’s website that he is still experiencing considerable discomfort from the injury that he sustained in a training crash during the week running up to the Superprestige race in Hamme-Zogge earlier in the month.
The 24-year-old has been using ice bags, sometimes two or three times a day "to get the inflammation to cool down,” he admitted via team manager Hans Van Kasteren at a press conference yesterday, “because it is not very well. At this moment I can barely bend my leg. If it persists I'll call the doctor."
Today, on the day that he spoke of a possible deal with road superteam Quick Step, the World champion went for a long training ride in the cold and rain and was still experiencing problems.
"The rain and the cold didn’t do it any good,” he said. “I don’t expect the races at the weekend will be a problem, but I would urgently need extra rest, but that is not easy; I have too many commitments. I’m lying down right now and hopefully will get one hour per day at the office; this is far too little."
‘Styby’ had a storming start to the season, winning his first eight races of the year (not counting the memorial race to recently deceased former Czech rider Radomir Simunek, which was won by the former World champion’s son). Since injuring his knee though, he has lost ground in both the Superprestige series and Gazet van Antwerpen (GvA) Trofee to teammate Kevin Pauwels, Klaas Vantournout (Sunweb-Revor) and Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet).
The coming weekend sees the third round of the World Cup in the sand of Koksijde, Belgium as well as another round of the Superprestige in Gieten, Netherlands. Failure to be on top form in either or both of these races could see him lose his World Cup lead and slip further down the Superprestige rankings.