Zdenek Stybar will not be competing in cyclocross events this winter, as the Deceuninck-QuickStep rider has opted to step away from competition after being able to finish his road season at the Vuelta a España.

Since switching to primarily road racing in 2012, Stybar has continued to race modestly in cyclocross, most notably winning his third career world title in 2014.

In the winter of 2017-2018, Stybar opted to forgo cyclocross, but lined out for five events the following year and took on no fewer than nine races last winter.

Deceuninck-QuickStep's Directeur Sportif Wilfried Peeters convinced the Czech rider to forgo the cyclocross campaign this time due to the late end of the 2020 road season, which was interrupted by the pandemic Peeters explained that the Czech riders were convinced to forgo the cyclo-cross campaign this time because of the late end of the 2020 road season, which was interrupted by the pandemic.

"The reason is simple," Peeters told Wielerflits (open in new tab). 'That strange coronavirus season lasted a very long time. Don't forget that Zdenek just finished his road season with the final stage of the Vuelta a España on November 8. He can't be expected to do a bunch of cyclo-cross races in December. He also needs rest."

Stejbal started the 2020 road season with a stage win at the Vuelta a San Juan and a sixth-place finish at the Strade Bianche when competition resumed in August, but he fell just short at the cobbled classic in October.

The top two riders in the Tour of Flanders, Mathieu van der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma), have been competing on the cyclocross circuit this winter, finishing first and second place in the World Cup in Namur on Sunday afternoon.