Zdenek Štival holds three rainbow jerseys in his cyclo-cross career, but the road world championships have not been as gratifying for the Czech rider. Despite his aptitude for a variety of terrain, Štival's best result in seven attempts since his debut in Valkenburg in 2012 was 14th in Bergen two years ago. It is nothing short of exceptional.

"Somehow, I've never done well at the World Championships," Stybar told Cycling News at the Vuelta a España as he finished preparations for this year's World Championships in Yorkshire.

"When I did cyclocross in the past, the world championships were always the best race of the year. It hasn't quite worked out on the road so far, but this year I hope to finally change that."

Steibal will be looking to break the World Championship record on the Yorkshire course. The course is hard to define exactly, but its vague description of long and tough gives any rider who can win any classic a chance to shine on September 29.

Stybar, who has already won the Omloop Het Niusbrod and the E3 Binkbank Classic this season, will head to Yorkshire with optimism, having previewed parkour when he visited England for the RideLondon Classic this summer.

"I went the Friday before London and ran all the races. So I know parkour.

"It's going to be a really challenging race. It suits the riders who are good at the Ardennes Classics and the cobbled Classics and who are not afraid to attack from a distance. It can be a sprint from a small group. There are a lot of different ways it can play out."

"It will be a really interesting race. First of all, it will be a really long race and the weather conditions will probably not be the best. The riders who control the race locally will have the advantage.

Stejbal is currently competing in the Vuelta a España. In the past, the Vuelta was something of a rite of passage for men aiming for the world championships. But like teammate Philippe Gilbert, who won in Bilbao on Thursday, Stybar is content to hone his form on Spanish roads.

"For me, the Vuelta is the best preparation for Yorkshire. The stages are longer than before and I think everything is going well."

Throughout the year, Stibal has been part of the Dečuninck-Quick Step team. By contrast, at the World Championships, Stybar runs with the Czech team, which does not have a full squad, in contrast to the strong nations such as Belgium and Italy.

"Of course we have a slight handicap, but I think we have done our best at all the World Championships we have competed in the past with the national team," Stybar said.

"Last year we supported Roman Kreuziger and he finished sixth. You can't compare us to countries like Italy or Belgium.

Of course, every handicap has its advantages, and Stybar may move more freely in Czech colors than he does in his regular quickstep blue.

"Roman Kreuziger can also play a really important role in the final, and Petr Vakoc is trying to be in the best shape possible.

When asked who is most likely to wear the rainbow jersey in Harrogate in three weeks, Stibal surprisingly chose his Detunink-Quickstep teammate.

"If I had to pick one, it would probably be [Julien] Alaphilippe," Stibal said. The Frenchman seems to be able to do everything these days.

"Exactly," Stibal laughed.