UCI Patrick Cyclo-cross World Cup: Another victory for Stybar


World Champion Zdenek Stybar (Telenet-Fidea) and Sanne van Paassen (The Netherlands) worked their way to solo victories during the second round of the UCI Patrick Cyclo-cross World Cup in Plzen, Czech Republic. Stybar extends his lead in the Elite Men's category over Belgians Kevin Pauwels (Telenet-Fidea) and Niels Albert (BCKP-Powerplus) while Van Paassen moves into the World Cup lead together with her compatriot Daphny van den Brand (The Netherlands).


Local rider Stybar won the Elite Men's race in front of his home crowd after leading most of the race together with his team-mate Pauwels and former World Champion Niels Albert. On the dry and fast course in Plzen the three riders worked well together to build up a comfortable lead over French champion Francis Mourey (Française des Jeux) and Belgians Klaas Vantornout (Sunweb-Revor), Bart Aernouts (Rabobank Giant Offroad Team), Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) and Dieter Vanthourenhout (BKCP-Powerplus). Going into the penultimate lap Stybar attacked on the sloping uphill section at the finish line and only Pauwels was able to keep up with the World Champion. After a furious fast lap the two team-mates kept off Albert but just before entering the final lap Pauwels disappeared from the front with a flat tyre. The home crowd surely didn't mind the Belgian's bad luck as their champion could avoid risks while rolling towards his second win in the World Cup. Pauwels held on to his second place ahead of Albert, Mourey and Nys.