Will the cyclo-cross fans no longer get the chance to see the world champion this season? Patrick Lefevere, manager of Omega Pharma-Quick Step, has said that the participation of Zdenek Stybar in races like the World Championships is not certain.

In August, Zdenek Stybar suffered a big crash in the Eneco Tour. "Then he went through a hellish period of rehabilitation," OPQS manager Lefevere tells Sporza. "At one point, I thought that his road season was over. But he later performed really well."

Stybar headed directly from the road season into some cyclo-cross racing but this short campaign was unsuccessful. In Ardooie, Stybar was involved in a crash and tore his shoulder ligaments.

Whethet the Czech will be back on the cross bike this season is a question for his team manager. "On Thurday, Stybar will undergo some testing. Then we will see if his condition is ok. Sunday he goes on a training camp with the team and there we will discuss his schedule.

"There is a chance that he will not be seen in the cross races again but that is still not certain. We will wait for the results of the test. Then we will decide whether Stybar will start in cross races like the World Championships in Tabor."