After 8th, 3rd and 5th place finishes in Essen, Heusden-Zolder, and Loenhout, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Zdenek Stybar took the win in just his fourth cyclocross race of the season at Versluys Cyclocross Bredene. It is the 61st victory for OPQS (three disciplines) in 2013.
There were five riders that were the protagonists of the race. However, in the final lap, Rob Peeters tried to go alone. He couldn’t gain more than a few seconds. Stybar didn’t give up and caught Peeters. The Czech champion, and former UCI World Cyclocross Champion, outsprinted Peeters. Dieter Vantourenhout completed the podium in third.
“It was both a fast and technical race,” Stybar said. “There were two scenarios. The course was dry when we started, making it fast, but it started to rain causing a bit of mud. That changed the traction and made it more difficult and slippery. That’s when the race became technical. During the race the group became smaller and smaller, and then 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. I am a bit surprised but really happy about this victory 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. 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.”