One year ago today, Zdenek Stival won the E3 Binkbank Classic, once again displaying his cobblestone classic talent and giving Dečuninck-Quickstep another important victory. A few weeks earlier, he had also won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, making it the first time in over 30 years that a non-Belgian racer had won both races.

To defend his E3 Bink Bank Classic title, Stibal is training alone, perhaps not in the saddle, but at home in Belgium.

"Not having a race is harder than I thought it would be. Physically it's not so much, but mentally it's not easy," he said through the Dečuninck Quick-Step team.

"I was really looking forward to these weeks on the cobblestones and should be in great shape right now. Of course, I won't be doing any more 200km rides, but I'm continuing my training.

"At the same time, this gives me a whole new perspective. It makes you think about the many people who are being hit harder by what is happening right now, and how they and the world as a whole are struggling. Beyond sports, we understand how important it is in times like these to help each other, to live strong, whether it is a small gesture or a kind word, and to get through these tough situations.

Stibal is in his 10th year of Detunink Quickstep. He has been one of the cornerstones of the team, winning whenever possible while sacrificing his chances for other riders; Stybar has won three world titles in cyclocross and has ridden 22 major classics since switching to road racing full time. He finished second in both Paris-Roubaix in 2015 and 2017; he won the Strade Bianche in 2015 and took a stage win at the Tour de France that same year.

After a strong start to the season with his trademark powerful attack to take a stage win at the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina, Stybar was poised to once again be a major player in the spring classics.

"My winter has been very good. With my early win in Argentina, I was hungry for races and I got good results. So I was confident that in Flanders and Roubaix I would be able to ride in the best conditions of my life. Now, sadly, it is all gone. All we can do is hold on to the hope that things will be back to normal soon."

Stibal won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with a late attack and also attempted a late attack in last year's E3 Binkbank Classic. He was chased down by Alberto Bettiol (EF Pro Cycling), Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma), and Greg Van Avermaat (CCC Team), but he was strong and had the speed to win the sprint.

"It's unbelievable how fast time flies. When I think about it now, it feels like yesterday," he recalled a year ago.

"It's hard to believe it was only a year ago, because E3 is a hard event, but also one of the most important and beautiful races on the calendar, and I always dreamed of winning it.

"Everything fell into place that day. I knew I had good legs after riding Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milan-San Remo.

"Our team went into the race with a plan and executed it perfectly. Before the relay, I told Bob to attack if he felt strong. Of course, they weren't giving me a freebie as they tried to put me in the wind, but I was in great shape and able to handle their maneuvers. Even when I caught up with Bob with a few kilometers to go, he dug deep and worked for me. I will never forget this and hope to repay him one day.

Steibal was adopted by Belgian cycling fans, and last spring he beat the best Belgians to win the rare Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 BinckBank Classic double.

"I am honored and proud to have achieved such a result in a Belgian race. I am even more grateful now that the race is gone. Maybe I can become the first athlete to win Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Ronde van Vlaanderen in the same year.