Lidl-Trek teammates put trust on Thibau Nys: The best Thibau might be able to hold Pogacar's wheel

Thibau Nys only began his road season now in April but immediately took a victory at the GP Miguel Indurain, and then at Itzulia Basque Country he was able to prime his form. Whilst absent most of the week, his performance on the queen stage was a staggering climbing performance which seems top put him in perfect place into Amstel Gold Race and the Ardennes classics.

“I see him very well for the Amstel on Sunday 20th. He has great expectations of himself and so does the team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win straight away," Lidl-Trek's Otto Vergaerde told Sporza. "For the Amstel, the finale with the finish immediately after the Cauberg suits him very well. There aren’t many riders who can sprint as hard as he does on a road like that. In fact, maybe there isn’t one at all“

Vergaerde goes as far as saying that hs compatriot could potentially match Pogacar in Limgurg. “The best Thibau, the one I’ve seen in the last few weeks, might be able to hold Pogačar’s wheel if he were to attack. Of course, actually doing so is another story. Thinking about the Flèche Wallonne and the finish on the Mur de Huy, with his acceleration ability Nys is one of the best in the world. But on Wednesday I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pogačar attack a lap before the finish”.

The American team has been able to implement strong tactics and will have plenty riders to battle for a top result this Sunday and likely throughout the whole week. However it is in Nys that Vergaerde puts the most confidence in. This was exactly because of the final day in the Basque Country. 

“But in the last stage he was very strong and on the climbs he stayed with the best – the notes of Vergaerde, also competing in the Basque race with the Lidl-Trek jersey – Maybe he has remained a bit in the shadow, but for him this could also turn out to be a positive thing”.

Into Amstel, the team should have Quinn Simmons, Andrea Bagioli, Toms Skujins and also Mattias Skjelmose as cards to play. "He (Skjelmose, ed.) and Nys complement each other perfectly. The harder the race, the better for Skjelmose; the more tactics, the better for Nys.”