Zdenek Stybar has everything to be proud of. He won the Cyclocross World Championship 3 times, had a victory at Omloop het Nieuwsbad and Strade Bianche, as well as a stage of the Tour de France, and today, the Czech cyclist put an end to his career in style.
At 38, Stybar said goodbye to cycling during the World Cyclocross Championship, alongside his compatriots in Tabor, Czech Republic, the stage where he won his first world title in 2010. Emotions were intense before and during the race.
They were tears and not goosebumps
“It wasn’t chills I felt, it was intense emotions,” Stybar confessed to the VTM camera. “It was a very special week. Unfortunately, I had a puncture on the last lap… On the one hand, I was able to enjoy what was happening more, on the other hand, it was a shame because I was getting a second wind and could have continued.”
Zdenek Stybar’s tears and the emotion of the moment were documented and shared on social media by cycling fans.
Forced to seize the moment
“Because of a scoop, I was forced to really appreciate the presence of the spectators. That was incredible. I cried a lot on the last lap and also on the podium. It was more than a dream farewell. I couldn’t have had a better farewell.”
“My career began and ended here, with a large number of people. The outcry and support from the fans is something that left me head over heels. It was unbelievable and a moment I will never forget.”