WORLD cyclocross champion Zdenek Stybar bounced back with a opportunist win in today's Binche-Chimay-Binche road race, the 1.1 ranked Europe Tour event which began as Binche-Tournai-Binche back in 1911. Wearing the Czech road champion's jersey Stybar was led into the final kilometre by team mate Niki Terpstra before launching a solo attack over the cobbled streets to the finish.

Stybar, who returned to racing a month ago after his horror crash in the Eneco Tour in August, has had such a disrupted road season that he will race two early season 'cross races - the Trofee race in Ronse on Sunday (October 12th) and the Kermiscross in Ardooie four days later (October 16th). That's an extra bonus for cyclocross fans who do not usually see the Czech rider appear in the field until just before Christmas.

Despite the disruption of the sprint crash the Czech rider has still managed a pretty impressive string of road results in 2014: 7th in Milan-San Remo; 5th in Paris-Roubaix; the national road race title; and a stage win in the Eneco Tour.

That all means that it should be a very interesting battle between Stybar and the 'cross toppers on Sunday. Read about one of our days out to Ronse here. 

In a team press release at the end of last month Stybar said, "I still have the motivation to race. When I was offered the chance to race in two early cross events I jumped at it. I really want to enjoy these two races and then rest for a while.”

“We’ll also make up a schedule like we did last year that will allow me to line up for the start of some (more) 'cross races before the road racing season gets underway,” the popular Czech added.

Stybar wins Binche-Chimay-Binche - last 10km

Highlights of the 2014 World 'cross championship

Main photo: ©kramon/cyclocrossrider.com