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Zdenek Stybar is standing at the very last stage of his ornamented cycling career. However, as he prepares for his last dance on the bike, a swarm of emotions is bound to engulf him. Apparently, signing off after participating in the Cyclocross World Championships is not an unusual feat for a rider. But for Stybar, he is ending right at the place where it all started- his home. The Czech cyclist is all set to mount his bike for the last time in his homeland, Tabor, which is hosting the World for the fourth time. 

Although the moment presents itself as a perfect circle to the athlete’s career, he is determined to finish off on a high. Stybar is not letting any amount of emotion get to him until he finishes the race on Sunday. So without further ado, let’s learn more about the story in detail below. 

Stybar remains focused amidst an emotional cycling farewell

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Speaking about his World Championships preparation, Stybar is trying hard to sidestep all the emotions. He participated in a training camp held in Mallorca. Stybar also practiced with his Czech teammates on the Tabor course to get a proper hang of the surface. When asked about his conception of his final race, Stybar came out with a surprising answer. 

He stated that while the reaction from the crowd made him nostalgic for a few moments, Stybar particularly could not feel any difference. The 38-year-old emphasized on the fact that the most important thing for him was to maintain his focus and stay physically fit. Stybar said,I’m too busy to really realise it’s the end. I think it will all come later, but right now I’m too busy to realise it.”  

Unfortunately, the recent years of the Czech cyclist has been marred with injuries. He always gave his best, but his body just couldn’t cope up. After his penultimate season with Jayco-AIUla, Stybar continued to race without a sponsor. He took this opportunity to display the names of his loved ones in the empty space of where his sponsors’ names would be. 

With Stybar bidding adieu to the game, let’s do a quick recap of his noted accomplishments. 

Zdenek Stybar’s exceptional career

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Stybar announced himself in the cycling world by clinching a bronze medal at the Zolder World Championships in the junior race. The Czech then went on to become one of the biggest names in the community by winning consecutive elite silver medals before returning to Tabor in 2010. Stybar produced one of the most exceptional performances as he whizzed past his opponents and won the race despite having a flat tyre. This victory made him join the elite list of Czech athletes who won in Tabor. Stybar was only the second one after Radomir Simunek’s victory in 1991. 

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Stybar’s victory parade continued as he won a couple of rainbow jerseys, one at Hoogerheide and the other in Sankt Wendel. However, by 2012, Stybar shifted his focus from cyclocross to road while signing a deal with QuickStep. 

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It now remains to be seen how Stybar performs in his last race. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below. 

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