Zdenek became Czech champion today in Slovkov u Brna. It is his first national title on the road, after seven titles in cyclo-cross. “I’m very happy with this,” said our favorite after the finish. “I’m really proud to wear this jersey.”
“The race was very fast and that was mainly because of the boys of NetApp with Jan Barta and Leopold Konig. Fortunately I was able to rely on a strong team, because there was also the youth team Etixx, who is connected to my team Omega Pharma-Quick Step. And of course my teammate Petr Vakoc.”
Those four guys made sure that Styby could attack together with Peter Sagan in the final. “Because, as everyone knows, the Czech Republic and Slovakia ride their championships together. Sagan was not a direct competitor, because he is Slovakian. The perfect guy to ride with in the final.”
Until it began to rain. “That didn’t mind at all actually. It was here about thirty degrees, and so we could use some refreshment. The roads were quite wet though, and therefore we didn’t use our elbows in the sprint. So we made it easy.”
Styby came first over the finish line and won. Vakoc took the silver medal as he finished as second Czech rider. The bronze went to Barta. “I put this title very high. I am proud. And I’m also proud on my teammates of today. I’ll make a call to our boss to give them a contract!”