This season Zdenek Stybar won't return to the cyclo-cross scene but as the outgoing world champion he knows what to expect from the upcoming world championships. He expects Wout van Aert to win the Belgian championships in Erpe-Mere and Kevin Pauwels to take the rainbow jersey in Tabor.

Later this month, the cyclo-cross worlds will take place in Tabor but Zdenek Stybar has ruled out that he will defend his title in his home country. "That's really totally impossible. I really can't imagine that I will be at the start," he told Sporza.

"I still have to much pain in my shoulder to race. On the road, I can do my wor but I can't lift my front wheel yet. In such circumstances, I really can not imagine that I will ride the Worlds. It is not a goal to finish 10th. I want to win.

"I have followed the cyclocross season at a distance. I find Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel impressive. Van Aert keeps winning, chapeau. I think he will win the Belgian Championships on Sunday. He is the top favorite.

"If I were him, I would ride the Worlds with the pros. Why should he ride with the U23 riders when he can win against the pros? Even if he only finishes third, he will have gained useful experience and that is very important.

"Maybe it's better that Van Aert is not world champion yet because there is much pressure and he is still very young. I also believe that Kevin Pauwels will be world champion. Nys? He is in a very difficult period, more due to private matters than to the sport. I find it is disrespectful that many people advises him to retire. "