Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic) quickly moved up from a tough starting position at the Cyclocross World Championships, but it wasn't enough to overcome a season-long lack of racing that ultimately pushed him near the front of the field.

Stybar, who won the Cyclocross World Championships in 2010, 2011, and 2014, had no cyclocross races planned at all this season, let alone Ostend, after finishing the road season late in the season. However, when a COVID-19 pandemic-related cancellation pushed back the 2021 road start date, the Czech rider decided to join the fray just as the season was peaking. With no in-season racing experience and no points to be gained from race results, Stybar started from the back of the grid on the sandy course on the banks of the North Sea. Nevertheless, he was doing well "out there" in the early stages of the Belgian race.

"I ran about 15th. I think I passed 30 riders in the first 300 meters. I didn't do well on the first flyover. I didn't do well in the first flyover, I lost 10 positions."

With Mathieu Van der Poel (Netherlands) and Wout Van Aert (Belgium) battling for the win, Stybar ran in 15th to 17th for most of the eight-lap race, but lost ground in the closing stages and eventually finished 18th in his first race of the cyclocross season. He finished 18th in his first race of the season.

"I rode with Tim Merlier (Belgium) for most of the race and made a lot of mistakes in the last 15 minutes. It was painful," Stybar said.

"Racing here is nothing compared to training. You can't simulate it in training, running in the sand and having to climb that bridge."

Stybar, who races for Deceuninck-QuickStep, has had limited time to race cyclocross since switching to the road in 2012, but has been able to participate in many events most seasons, except for 2017-18. However, the World Championships is not usually one of them, and has not been since 2014, when he won the event.

"The World Championships are special for me. I have good memories. This week brought back a lot of memories. It's a shame to lose a great record here. It won't be my last World Championship," Stybar said.

However, given the current dominance of Van der Pol and Van Aert, one cannot expect his return to the World Championships to mean a return to the results he achieved in 2010, 2011, and 2014.

"Mathieu and Wout are exceptional. No one can keep up with them on the road, let alone cyclocross," Stybar said.