Zdenek Stybar will miss this year’s Tour of Flanders after he underwent a surgery on Wednesday as he was suffering from a heart rhythm problem, which came to light after he felt bad in Gent-Wevelgem last Sunday.
“I am obviously disappointed to miss De Ronde on Sunday“, said Stybar. “I have been watching the build-up and excitement on the television and the feel and the passion for this period of racing, with E3, Gent-Wevelgem, Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, is my favourite part of the season. I had been training well and felt that my form going into this weekend was the best that I have had for some time.”
“But I am lucky that this is a minor surgery, and I am grateful that it happened and has been fixed, not only with the perspective of the rest of my season, but also my overall health. After a huge check-up it was nice to know that it was nothing more serious. I will take some days off now to relax with my son and my wife and then look forward to starting training again.
“I would like to thank the team’s doctors, professor Brugada, and the staff at the Uccle Hospital for the great care that they afforded me, and at the same time, wish my teammates all the best for Sunday”, he added.
