Zdenek won't start Sunday's world cup race in Pontchâteau. Instead our champion will extend his stay in Mallorca. “I'm already out of contention for the world cup,” he said. “And I want to concentrate on the world championships in St. Wendel.”
“I'm currently tenth in the overall standings and have nothing more to win in the world cup,” Styby admitted on the Telenet-Fidea website. “Moreover, the transfer from Mallorca to France and the trip back after are really difficult. That's why I prefer to stay in Mallorca and continue to train hard. This extended stay gives me the opportunity to firmly concentrate on the world championships in St. Wendel. I want to have a fantastic finish to my unlucky season.”
Styby won't return until Friday, January 21. “I was able to train twice with Phillipe Gilbert, Jürgen Van den Broeck and the other Omega-Pharma Lotto riders and that gave me the idea to stay in Mallorca. I was able to talk a lot with them. Sure there was some small talk, but we also talked about cycling. They're in full preparation for the road season and just train, eat and sleep. That seemed ideal for myself as well as I look forward to the world championships. I'll only ride the crosses in Zonnebeke and Hoogerheide before St. Wendel,” Styby reported.