Outgoing Telenet-Fidea manager, Hans Van Kasteren, is not known as one to mince words. In a recent interview with P-Magazine and quoted in Het Laatste Nieuws, the no nonsense Dutch businessman clarifies a few points of contention, number one amongst them comes in relation to his star rider, Zdenek Stybar.
Stybar will not be leaving his team ahead of schedule. The defending World Champion's contract goes through March 1, 2011, and unless Stybar fancies a costly trip to court, that's how it will stand, according to Van Kasteren.
"First, let me outline the situation. Stybar became World Champion last year in Tabor. Immediately, he went shopping on his own in the hope of a better contract somewhere else, and all of that while he was still under contract with us until March 1, 2011, as well as the fact that I was his personal manager."
Van Kasteren continues, still irritated at the goings on following his star rider's biggest success.
"However, I still met his demands for 525,000 euros, but suddenly he wrote back: 'I received a contract proposal of 575,000 euros from Quick.Step. I sniffed danger and sent a registered letter and an email to Quick.Step asking for confirmation that the signature was in fact Lefevere's. I have been waiting for three weeks now for that answer."
The manager, who intends to retire on September 1, 2011, does not appear to be in any way amenable to allowing the talented Czech cross racer out of his contract even a day early.
"Stybar stays with us unless he wants to obtain his freedom in court, but it will cost him a pretty penny."
A few days ago, Stybar spoke with Het Nieuwsblad and relayed his side of the story, certainly a much more innocent sounding version of things.
"I hoped that an agreement could be reached before the World Chamionships. Before, I hoped for the same thing in November, and already in March 2010, I explained my desire to leave, but Hans [Van Kasteren] still does not want me to leave. This remains the core of the problem."
In the Czech champion's version, it looks like so: "The situation is as follows - Quick.Step has the best deal, so normally, I can leave, but this is not the case. Why, I do not know, and I do not understand. But I do know one thing: my contract ends in February. Done!"
At least for both parties, who look set for a decidedly non-amicable parting, they'll soon be rid of each other forever, as Van Kasteren heads toward retirement, and Stybar aims for the record books on the road.