Zdeněk Štybar

Zdeněk Štybar (born 11 December 1985) is a Czech former professional cyclist, who rode professionally in cyclo-cross and road bicycle racing between 2005 and 2024 for, the and.

In the early part of his career, Štybar prioritised competing in cyclo-cross, where he won three world titles – in 2010, 2011 and 2014 – as well as six consecutive national titles and overall victories in both the 2009–10 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup and the 2009–10 Cyclo-cross Superprestige. Signing for in 2011, Štybar competed more readily in road racing, ultimately winning Grand Tour stages at the 2013 Vuelta a España and the 2015 Tour de France, the Czech National Road Race Championships in 2014 and 2017, and multiple one-day races. Over his professional career, Štybar took more than 60 victories across both disciplines.

Early life and cyclo-cross career
Štybar was born in Planá u Mariánských Lázní. He won his first UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup race during the 2007–08 season at Kalmthout, and ultimately won the overall title in 2009–10. Following consecutive second places in the men's elite race at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2008 and 2009, Štybar won the 2010 edition on home soil in Tábor. He then defended his title the following year in Sankt Wendel, Germany.

2011–2013
In March 2011, Štybar joined the UCI World Tour team to combine his cyclo-cross career with a career in road cycling. In his first road race with the team, Štybar finished in third place overall at May's Four Days of Dunkirk, having finished in the same position on the race's queen stage which involved several cobbled climbs. He also finished third in the Czech National Road Race Championships the following month.

Just as in 2011, Štybar's first road start in 2012 came at the Four Days of Dunkirk; having finished second on the second stage, Štybar won the penultimate stage (also the queen stage) by ten seconds – his first professional road victory – as he finished second overall behind Jimmy Engoulvent. Having finished second to Jan Bárta at the Czech National Time Trial Championships, Štybar took his first victory at UCI World Tour level when he won the third stage of the Tour de Pologne in a sprint finish in Cieszyn. He made his Grand Tour début later in the year, at the Vuelta a España.

In 2013, Štybar came in sixth in Paris–Roubaix. He was in contention for the victory as he was part of the leading trio with Sep Vanmarcke and Fabian Cancellara when he hit a spectator, causing him to slow down to clip in his pedals. He tried to get back to the two leaders, but to no avail. In August, Štybar took the overall victory in the Eneco Tour – part of the UCI World Tour – winning two stages in the process. Later that month, Štybar won stage 7 of the Vuelta a España beating world champion Philippe Gilbert in a sprint finish in Mairena del Aljarafe.

2014
In 2014, Štybar won his third elite world title at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands following an intense battle with defending champion Sven Nys. He ran as high as third overall at Paris–Nice, but ultimately lost time on the final stage around Nice. Over the following few weeks, he recorded top-ten finishes at Milan–San Remo (seventh) and Paris–Roubaix (fifth). Having finished third in the Czech National Time Trial Championships, three days later, Štybar won his first Czech National Road Race Championships title, finishing almost a minute clear of his closest rivals.

In trying to defend his title in the Eneco Tour – where he had also won the second stage – Štybar crashed into the steel barriers in the fourth stage near the finish line and was hospitalised, losing his front upper teeth as a result. Upon his return, he complained to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) that the same dangerous barriers were used in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec. His first victory upon his return was Binche–Chimay–Binche, where he attacked inside of 2 km to go on a small cobbled climb after being led out by his teammate Niki Terpstra at the foot of the rise. Štybar had time to celebrate, coming in 2 seconds ahead of John Degenkolb and the charging sprinters.

2015
In his first start of the 2015 season, Štybar finished in third place at the Vuelta a Murcia. Having finished seventh at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Štybar then won Strade Bianche on his first appearance at the race the following weekend; having been a part of a larger group of leading favourites, Štybar formed part of a trio that battled it out for victory in Siena along with Alejandro Valverde and Greg Van Avermaet, ultimately pulling clear of his rivals as they headed towards the Piazza del Campo.

Following his Strade Bianche victory, Štybar finished second in E3 Harelbeke, having unsuccessfully tried to chase down a solo move by Geraint Thomas. At the Tour of Flanders, his false set of front teeth he broke in 2014 rattled loose as he was riding a cobbled climb and he had to take them off. He still managed to finish the race in ninth position. He then finished in second place in Paris–Roubaix, being outsprinted by John Degenkolb at Roubaix Velodrome.

Štybar was named in the start list for the Tour de France, spending a portion of the race inside the top ten places overall. He met success on Stage 6, where he powered away on a short but steep incline situated a few hundred metres before the finish line in Le Havre. He kept Peter Sagan from reaching him, crossing the line with a two-second advantage over the reduced group. He then finished third overall at the Czech Cycling Tour, winning the final stage and the points classification, and finished fifth overall at the Tour of Britain.

2016–2019
Štybar started his 2016 season racing at the Vuelta a Mallorca one-day races, finishing third in the Trofeo Pollença–Port de Andratx. He then finished second in Strade Bianche after being outsprinted by fellow escapee Fabian Cancellara at the finish in Siena. The following week, he won the second stage of Tirreno–Adriatico after a late solo attack, to take the race lead. He held the race lead until the penultimate day, and having entered the final stage in second overall – seven seconds behind race leader Greg Van Avermaet – he ultimately lost five places in the general classification over the final 10.05 km individual time trial. He took no further victories for the remainder of the season, recording second-place finishes at both the Czech National Road Race Championships and Binche–Chimay–Binche, and took top-ten results in the Tour of Flanders (eighth) and the Eneco Tour (seventh).

After top-ten finishes in successive starts at Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne (ninth) and Strade Bianche (fourth) in the spring of 2017, Štybar finished second behind Greg Van Avermaet  at Paris–Roubaix, in a five-man sprint finish in Roubaix Velodrome. He then won a second Czech National Road Race Championships title, taking, for the first time, the national champion's jersey to the Tour de France. The following year, Štybar finished in the top ten placings of eight one-day races on the 2018 UCI World Tour, with a best of result of sixth place at Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Bretagne Classic Ouest-France, and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec. He did, however, win the points classification at the BinckBank Tour.

Štybar's first start of the 2019 season came at the Volta ao Algarve, where he won the final stage of the race atop the Alto do Malhão, avenging his near miss from the previous year – when he was caught with 1.5 km remaining. He then became the first Czech rider to win Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, soloing away from a five-rider move around 2 km before the finish. Having taken a fourth-place finish at Strade Bianche, Štybar added a third win of the season at the E3 BinckBank Classic, winning a sprint of four riders in Harelbeke, following a leadout from teammate Bob Jungels. Štybar recorded his sixth top-ten finish in seven years at Paris–Roubaix with an eighth-place finish, but he recorded no further victories for the remainder of the season.

2020s
In his first race of 2020, Štybar won the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a San Juan, starting and finishing at the Circuito San Juan Villicum motor racing circuit; he attacked inside of the final kilometre and managed to hold off the sprinters closing in behind. Following the COVID-19 pandemic-enforced suspension of racing, Štybar finished second to Adam Ťoupalík at the Czech National Road Race Championships, and finished third on stage fourteen of the Vuelta a España, having been a part of a seven-rider breakaway group.

Štybar's best results of the 2021 season came on Belgian soil; in March, he finished in fifth place at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, spending the final portion of the race attempting to stymie any attacks from a small group of riders, behind his teammate Kasper Asgreen, who ultimately soloed to victory. In September, he finished seventh on successive weekends at the Primus Classic, and the road race at the UCI Road World Championships. In 2022, Štybar's best result was a second-place finish at the Tour of Leuven, losing to Victor Campenaerts in a sprint à deux, and he also finished in the top ten at the inaugural UCI Gravel World Championships in Italy.

Team Jayco–AlUla, retirement (2023–2024)
After twelve years within the Quick-Step organisation, Štybar joined – later renamed as  – on a one-year contract for the 2023 season. Primarily working as a road captain, Štybar recorded his best result in, what would turn out to be, his final start with the team – a podium finish (third place) at the Hong Kong Cyclothon, won by teammate Lukas Pöstlberger. Having completed the road season, Štybar left the team following four starts during the 2023–24 cyclo-cross season.

Štybar then competed as a privateer in the 2024 cyclo-cross races, having previously announced that he would retire following the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in February, which were to be held on home soil in Tábor. He finished 3rd in the Czech National Championships, and finished in 31st at the World Championships.

Personal life
Štybar is married to Belgian national Ine Vanden Bergh, and the couple have one son.

Cyclo-cross
Source:


 * 2001–2002
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Junior Championships
 * 3rd Bronze medal uci.svg UCI Junior World Championships


 * 2002–2003
 * 3rd Bronze medal uci.svg UCI Junior World Championships


 * 2004–2005
 * 1st Jersey rainbow.svg UCI Under-23 World Championships
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Under-23 Championships
 * 3rd Overall UCI Under-23 World Cup
 * 2nd Nommay
 * 3rd Hofstade
 * Under-23 Superprestige
 * 2nd Diegem
 * 3rd Sint-Michielsgestel
 * 2nd Under-23 Milan


 * 2005–2006
 * 1st Jersey rainbow.svg UCI Under-23 World Championships
 * Under-23 Superprestige
 * 2nd Sint-Michielsgestel
 * 2nd Vorselaar
 * 3rd Gavere
 * 3rd Hoogstraten
 * 3rd Overall Under-23 Gazet van Antwerpen
 * 2nd Koppenberg
 * 2nd Loenhout
 * 2nd Hasselt
 * 3rd Bronze medal europe.svg UEC European Under-23 Championships


 * 2006–2007
 * 1st Ardooie
 * 1st Harderwijk
 * 1st Faè di Oderzo
 * UCI Under-23 World Cup
 * 1st Treviso
 * 2nd Hofstade
 * Under-23 Superprestige
 * 1st Ruddervoorde
 * 2nd Sint-Michielsgestel
 * 2nd Gavere
 * 2nd Diegem
 * 2nd Vorselaar
 * 2nd Hamme
 * 2nd Diegem
 * 2nd Hoogstraten
 * 2nd Silver medal europe.svg UEC European Under-23 Championships
 * 2nd National Championships
 * 2nd Erpe-Mere
 * 2nd Eernegem
 * 3rd Antwerpen


 * 2007–2008
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Championships
 * 1st Kalmthout, UCI World Cup
 * Toi Toi Cup
 * 1st Louny
 * 1st Plzeň
 * 1st Podbořany
 * 1st Faè di Oderzo
 * 2nd Silver medal uci.svg UCI World Championships
 * 3rd Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
 * 2nd Loenhout
 * 2nd Baal
 * 3rd Koppenberg
 * 3rd Essen
 * 4th Overall Superprestige
 * 2nd Ruddervoorde
 * 2nd Hamme
 * 2nd Hoogstraten
 * 3rd Diegem


 * 2008–2009
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Championships
 * 1st Diegem, Superprestige
 * 2nd Silver medal uci.svg UCI World Championships
 * 2nd Mechelen
 * 3rd Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
 * 1st Loenhout
 * 2nd Essen
 * 2nd Baal
 * 3rd Overall UCI World Cup
 * 2nd Tábor
 * 2nd Roubaix
 * 3rd Koksijde
 * 3rd Milan
 * 3rd Zonhoven
 * 3rd Neerpelt
 * 3rd Tervuren
 * 3rd Hlinsko, Toi Toi Cup


 * 2009–2010
 * 1st Jersey rainbow.svg UCI World Championships
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Championships
 * 1st Jersey white.svg Overall UCI World Cup
 * 1st Koksijde
 * 1st Igorre
 * 1st Roubaix
 * 2nd Treviso
 * 2nd Nommay
 * 2nd Kalmthout
 * 2nd Hoogerheide
 * 3rd Plzeň
 * 1st Overall Superprestige
 * 1st Hamme
 * 1st Vorselaar
 * 2nd Hoogstraten
 * 2nd Diegem
 * 2nd Zonhoven
 * 3rd Ruddervoorde
 * 3rd Gavere
 * 1st Tervuren
 * 1st Mechelen
 * Toi Toi Cup
 * 1st Stříbro
 * 1st Podbořany
 * 2nd Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
 * 1st Hasselt
 * 2nd Baal
 * 2nd Lille
 * 2nd Oostmalle
 * 3rd Namur
 * 3rd Essen
 * 3rd Loenhout
 * 2nd Ardooie
 * 2nd Neerpelt
 * 3rd Antwerp
 * 3rd Niel


 * 2010–2011
 * 1st Jersey rainbow.svg UCI World Championships
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Championships
 * 1st Ardooie
 * 1st Bredene
 * 1st Mechelen
 * UCI World Cup
 * 1st Aigle
 * 1st Plzeň
 * 2nd Koksijde
 * Toi Toi Cup
 * 1st Stříbro
 * 1st Louny
 * 2nd Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
 * 1st Namur
 * 2nd Hasselt
 * 3rd Loenhout
 * 2nd Zonnebeke
 * 2nd Eeklo
 * 3rd Overall Superprestige
 * 1st Ruddervoorde
 * 1st Zonhoven
 * 2nd Baal
 * 2nd Lille
 * 2nd Oostmalle
 * 3rd Diegem
 * 3rd Heerlen


 * 2011–2012
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Championships
 * 1st Stříbro, Toi Toi Cup
 * 1st Baden
 * 1st Ardooie
 * 2nd Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
 * 2nd Ronse
 * 2nd Hasselt
 * 2nd Loenhout
 * 2nd Lille
 * 2nd Oostmalle
 * 3rd Koppenberg
 * 2nd Mechelen
 * 3rd Overall UCI World Cup
 * 1st Liévin
 * 2nd Tábor
 * 2nd Heusden-Zolder
 * 2nd Hoogerheide
 * 3rd Plzeň
 * 3rd Overall Superprestige
 * 1st Hamme
 * 1st Middelkerke
 * 3rd Gavere
 * 2nd Bredene


 * 2012–2013
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG National Championships
 * BPost Bank Trophy
 * 2nd Loenhout
 * 2nd Baal
 * 3rd Heusden-Zolder, UCI World Cup
 * 3rd Diegem, Superprestige
 * 3rd Bredene


 * 2013–2014
 * 1st Jersey rainbow.svg UCI World Championships
 * 1st Bredene
 * 2nd Baal, BPost Bank Trophy
 * 3rd Heusden-Zolder, UCI World Cup


 * 2022–2023
 * 1st Dohňany II
 * 2nd Dohňany I


 * 2023–2024
 * 3rd National Championships

Gravel

 * 2022
 * 8th UCI World Championships

Road
Source:


 * 2005
 * 8th Gran Premio della Liberazione
 * 9th Overall Giro delle Regioni


 * 2006
 * 1st Stage 6 Volta a Lleida
 * 1st Stage 3 Tour des Pyrénées


 * 2007
 * 3rd Grand Prix Criquielion


 * 2010
 * 1st Prologue Okolo Slovenska


 * 2011
 * 3rd Road race, National Championships
 * 3rd Overall Four Days of Dunkirk


 * 2012 (2 pro wins)
 * 1st Stage 3 Tour de Pologne
 * 2nd Time trial, National Championships
 * 2nd Overall Four Days of Dunkirk
 * 1st Stage 4
 * 10th Paris–Tours


 * 2013 (4)
 * 1st Jersey white.svg Overall Eneco Tour
 * 1st Stages 3 & 7
 * 1st Stage 7 Vuelta a España
 * 1st Stage 1 (TTT) Tirreno–Adriatico
 * 6th Paris–Roubaix


 * 2014 (3)
 * National Championships
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG Road race
 * 3rd Time trial
 * 1st Binche–Chimay–Binche
 * 1st Stage 2 Eneco Tour
 * 5th Paris–Roubaix
 * 7th Milan–San Remo
 * 10th Clásica de San Sebastián


 * 2015 (3)
 * 1st Strade Bianche
 * 1st Stage 6 Tour de France
 * 2nd E3 Harelbeke
 * 2nd Paris–Roubaix
 * 3rd Overall Czech Cycling Tour
 * 1st [[Image:Jersey orange.svg|20px]] Points classification
 * 1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 4
 * 3rd Vuelta a Murcia
 * 5th Overall Tour of Britain
 * 7th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
 * 9th Tour of Flanders


 * 2016 (1)
 * 2nd Road race, National Championships
 * 2nd Strade Bianche
 * 2nd Binche–Chimay–Binche
 * 3rd Trofeo Pollença–Port de Andratx
 * 7th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico
 * 1st Stage 2
 * 7th Overall Eneco Tour
 * 8th Tour of Flanders
 * 8th Gran Piemonte


 * 2017 (1)
 * 1st MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG Road race, National Championships
 * 2nd Paris–Roubaix
 * 4th Strade Bianche
 * 9th Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne


 * 2018
 * 1st [[Image:Jersey red.svg|20px]] Points classification, BinckBank Tour
 * 6th Bretagne Classic Ouest-France
 * 6th Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
 * 6th Dwars door Vlaanderen
 * 7th Strade Bianche
 * 8th Gent–Wevelgem
 * 9th Paris–Roubaix
 * 9th E3 Harelbeke
 * 10th Tour of Flanders


 * 2019 (3)
 * 1st E3 BinckBank Classic
 * 1st Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
 * 4th Strade Bianche
 * 6th Overall Volta ao Algarve
 * 1st Stage 5
 * 8th Paris–Roubaix


 * 2020 (1)
 * 1st Stage 6 Vuelta a San Juan
 * 2nd Road race, National Championships
 * 6th Strade Bianche


 * 2021
 * 5th E3 Saxo Bank Classic
 * 7th Road race, UCI World Championships
 * 7th Primus Classic


 * 2022
 * 2nd Tour of Leuven