Here, Stybar wins the 2012 Liévin World Cup in France. ©Bart Hazen
Zdenek Stybar may have all but abandoned cyclocross in the past year, but the former World Champion is making his cyclocross fans proud by showing some serious road chops this year, from a great showing in Paris-Roubaix to today’s win in the Vuelta.
One of our favorite ’crossers-gone-awol, two-time World Cyclocross Champion Stybar (Omega-Pharma Quickstep), today again showed his moxie by winning stage 7 of the Vuelta a’ Espana. With nine kilometers left in the stage, which included an impressive number of roundabouts, Stybar powered away with World Road Champion Phillip Gilbert (BMC). With the peloton closing within meters of the duo by the sprint, Gilbert opened up first with Stybar quickly coming around. Though Gilbert slipped behind the Czech’s wheel and then shot around for the line, Gilbert ran out of road and our beloved Styby took his first grand tour win of his career.
