Stybar wins Versluys Cyclocross Bredene

One week after making the first start of his abbreviated six-race 'cross season, Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) outsprinted an on-form Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) to win the UCI C2-rated Versluys Cyclocross Bredene. Dieter Vanthourenhout (BKCP-Powerplus) rounded out the podium in Bredene, Belgium, for third place.

The race in Bredene quickly became a five-man contest between Stybar, Peeters, Vanthourenhout, Lubomir Petrus (BKCP-Powerplus) and Joeri Adams (Telenet-Fidea) with Peeters jumping away on the final lap in a bid to win the race alone. Stybar, however, would bridge across to Peeters and outsprint the Belgian for the win.

Stybar's brief, six-race 'cross season began one week prior with an eighth place result at the Essen round of the bpost bank trofee series. The 28-year-old Czech then placed third in Thursday's World Cup round in Huesden-Zolder followed by a fifth place result yesterday at the Loenhout round of the bpost bank trofee. In his fourth 'cross race of the season today Stybar was pleased with the outcome.

"I am a bit surprised but really happy about this victory," said Stybar. "It is important to me. I would like to thank the supporters who were here at this race and every race so far. It's always nice to come back to this environment and have good results."

While the parcours in Bredene started out dry, the circuit soon turned muddy as rain commenced in the early laps. Stybar made the initial selection into the lead group, then chased down Peeters who attacked on the final lap.

"The course was dry when we started, making it fast, but it started to rain causing a bit of mud," said Stybar. "That changed the traction and made it more difficult and slippery. That's when the race became technical.

"In the last lap Peeters attacked. I was able to close the gap, but in the last corner at 150 meters from the finish I lost contact with Peeters briefly. But I gave everything. In my head it was all or nothing at that point. There was a headwind, which helped me to come back to Peeters and win the race."

Stybar will contest his fourth 'cross race in as many days tomorrow at the Superprestige round in Diegem, Belgium, something the Czech has never done before in his 'cross career. "Tomorrow I will have my 4th race in a row, which is a first for me. I am curious to see how my body will react."

The sixth and final confirmed 'cross race of the winter for Stybar will take place on January 1st, 2014 at the GP Sven Nys in Baal, Belgium.

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Full Results
1Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickStep1:01:07
2Rob Peeters (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team0:00:18
4Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus Cycling Team0:00:24
5Joeri Adams (Bel) Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team0:00:35
6Jonathan Page (USA) Fuji-Spy-Competitive Cyclist0:00:53
7Robert Gavenda (Svk) Dukla Trencin Trek0:01:01
8Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team0:01:19
9Martin Haring (Svk) CK Banska Bystrica0:01:32
10Stijn Huys (Bel) Orange Babies Cycling Team0:01:34
11Berne Vankeirsbilck (Bel)0:01:54
12Ben Berden (Bel) Raleigh-Clement0:01:58
13Sven Beelen (Bel)0:02:04
14Bart Hofman (Bel) Afdeling Oost-Vlaanderen WBV - VZW0:02:17
15Jelle Brackman (Bel)0:02:33
16Vinnie Braet (Bel)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team0:02:47
18Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) DNCS-Pro 2012 Cycling Team0:03:02
19Bart Verschueren (Bel) Crelan KDL Cycling Team0:03:14
20Steven De Decker (Bel)0:03:18
21Jeremy Durrin (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies0:03:20
22Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) An Post-Chainreaction0:03:27
23Antonin Marecaille (Fra) L´Enfer Dunord0:03:32
24Jeffrey Mellemans (Bel) Heylen Meubelcentrale Zlwc St. Truiden0:03:42
25Jelle Wallays (Bel)0:04:19
26Stef Claeys (Bel)0:04:36
27Christoph Ambroziak (Ger) Gunsha Racing Team0:04:38
28Maxime Vantomme (Bel)Row 27 - Cell 2
29Yannick Mayer (Ger) Team Baier Landshut0:04:46
30Severin Sägesser (Swi) RC Gränichen/Fischer Zweiradsport0:05:18
31Ondrej Glajza (Svk) KCK Oslany0:05:37
32Alexander Revell (NZl) PNP Cycling Club0:05:49
33Joseph Fox (GBr)0:06:44
34Robert Glajza (Svk) CK Banska BystricaRow 33 - Cell 2
35Angus Edmond (NZl) Stevens-MalteniRow 34 - Cell 2
36Christophe Cavazzana (Fra)Row 35 - Cell 2

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