Former cyclocross world champion Zdenek Stybar will be going off-road once again for his winter training.
The Quick-Step Floors rider will be making a return to the world of cyclocross in the hopes of carrying form into the 2019 season.
Stybar, 33, won the cyclocross world championships in 2010, 2011, and 2014 but has built a reputation as a strong Classics rider on the road.
>>> Cyclocross: the ultimate guide to racing and training
The Czech rider said: “I am really looking forward to my return to cyclocross, a beautiful discipline that I love taking part in.
“It will be some really hard and competitive racing and hopefully I can have some good form and try to have some fun.
“It is also a great chance for me to mix with my Czech team-mates and to help some of the younger riders who are coming through, which is something that I am very passionate about.”
Stybar will start with the Zolder World Cup on Boxing Day (December 26) before riding Loenhout on December 28 and Diegem two days later.
>>> Tour Down Under 2019 route: Willunga Hill remains the pivotal stage amongst a host of sprints
Finally he will ride the Baal event on New Year's Day before joining Quick-Step team-mates at their January training camp in Calpe, Spain.
Stybar, the former Czech national champion, has picked up stage wins at both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
He also won the 2015 edition of Strade Bianche.
But a Monument win has eluded the one-day specialist who has finished second in Paris-Roubaix on two occasions, 2015 and 2017.
This season he picked up a string of top-10 Classics finishes – ninth in E3 Harelbeke, eighth in Ghent-Wevelgem, 10th in the Tour of Flanders and ninth in Paris-Roubaix.
Stybar, who joined Quick-Step in 2011 and will continue with the team under its new name Deceuninck-Quick Step, is no doubt hoping some intense cyclocross efforts could help his form heading into the spring next year.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Computer company Acer is making an AI-powered bike and it’s got some wild features
Taiwanese hardware and electronics corporation, Acer, best known for its powerful laptop computers, appears to be diversifying its product offerings with the creation of a (super) smart e-bike
-
It's not just Remco v Roglič at Volta a Catalunya as two becomes three: 'When two are fighting, it's the other who takes it'
Is Giulio Ciccone, at the once-assumed peak age of 28, developing into a serious rival for the best?
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
-
Fabio Jakobsen on aiming for the Tour de France, lawsuit against Groenewegen and supporting Cavendish
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider showed he is back to being one of the fastest sprinters around at the Vuelta a España
-
'I don’t want to end my time with the regret of not ever trying': Julian Alaphilippe wants to try and win Tour de France before retiring
The double world champion will focus on the Classics in 2022 but still has an eye on the French Grand Tour
-
Julian Alaphilippe and Remco Evenepoel share their thoughts ahead of Il Lombardia 2021
The two Deceuninck - Quick-Step riders come into the final Monument of the year as two of the main favourites
-
Julian Alaphilippe says losing the rainbow jersey would have been 'a certain form of relief'
The French star stormed to an amazing second world title in a row on the roads of Leuven
-
Sam Bennett makes return to Deceuninck - Quick-Step squad in Belgian one-day race
The Irish sprinter has fallen out with management, recently racing the European Championships without consulting with the team
-
Mark Cavendish explains mid-race frustration to viewers during Tour of Britain breakaway
The 'Manx Missile' became frustrated with the motorbikes helping two riders the break had deliberately dropped
-
'Not much is missing': Julian Alaphilippe says he's close to peak fitness for World Championship defence
The current world champion put in an incredible effort on the Great Orme at the Tour of Britain
