Zdenek Stybar (Telenet-Fidea) won the Sylvestercross in Bredene, Belgium to take his first victory after injuring his knee in training back in mid-November. The 25-year-old World champion outsprinted Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) to condemn the Belgian champion to his third second place in four days. Nys’ conqueror on both previous occasions, Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) was third, 13 seconds behind them, after a mistake in the final lap.
“The course wasn’t difficult enough for us to drop each other,” said Stybar afterwards, according to Sport.be, “so I could continue to stay at the front, although I’m actually still not strong enough; but in the sprint I could, of course, finish it.
“The main thing besides the victory is that I no longer feel pain in my knee,” explained the World champion, “while in the last four days I’ve ridden three tough races.”
The good news for Nys, as a consolation for being the bridesmaid once more, was that he had two bike changes during the race without incident.
Result Sylvestercross
1. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Telenet-Fidea
2. Sven Nys (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
3. Niels Albert (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus @ 13s
4. Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus @ 53s
5. Martin Zlamalik (Cze) Sunweb-Revor @ 1’12”
6. Davy Commeyne (Bel) Landbouwkrediet @ 1’24”
7. Ben Berden (Bel) Qin Cycling Team @ 1’26”
8. Jan Verstraten (Bel) KDL-Trans
9. Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Sunweb-Revor
10. Mathieu Boulo (Fra) Roubaix-Lille Metropole @ 1’43”