After the peloton bid farewell to several cycling icons like Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, and Thibaut Pinot, now Zdenek Stybar has also announced that he will retire from professional cycling after this season.
Zdenek Stybar, currently competing in the Tour of Guangxi in China, is set to conclude his professional career. In an interview with Cyclingnews, the 37-year-old cyclist from Jayco-AlUla shared his feelings about retiring far from his family: “It’s not easy to finish your career in China, far from your family. But I try not to think too much about it. I’d like to do a few more races next winter, but on the road, it’s over for me.”
Stybar will not continue with Jayco-AlUla in 2024. He revealed: “My agent has been in talks with other teams in recent months, but due to the multiple surgeries I underwent, my age, and my poor performance, there is no more interest on their part.”
Many injuries and illnesses
Stybar has had to deal with many issues in recent years. In April, he underwent surgery on both legs due to narrowing of the iliac artery.
“I think it bothered me for three years,” says Stybar. “Since 2020, my performance has gradually declined. All this time, I didn’t know what was going on. It certainly wasn’t motivation. So now I know what was wrong. Last year, I raced with only one leg.”
“I also had many other problems during this period that could explain my poor form. I had heart surgery and got Covid four times.”
Stybar began his cycling career in Cyclocross, where he became a three-time world champion. In 2011, the Czech rider switched to the road, where he also achieved significant success. His most significant victories included the Strade Bianche, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Harelbeke, a stage in the Tour de France, and two second-place finishes in Paris-Roubaix. In total, he secured 18 victories as a professional road cyclist.
Watch Zdenek Stybar’s victory in the 2015 Strade Bianche.