"The Amstel Gold Race is tailor-made for him" - Jan Bakelants analyzes chances of Thibau Nys at the Ardennes

Thibau Nys has only just made a debut after successful cyclocross winter when he became the european champion. On his first race day back on road, the Belgian didn't leave anything to our imagination and confidently rode towards a victory at the GP Miguel Indurain. A great signal towards upcoming Ardennes.

What is Nys capable of? "He can win La Fleche Wallonne, the Brabantse Pijl, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, stages in all the major tours and the CX World Championships," predicts Dirk De Wolf at Cycling Club Wattage.

La Fleche Wallonne is particularly high on Nys' wish list, it seems. "But he will be up against Pogacar and Evenepoel. And also against Van Gils if he is at his best," Bakelants tempers expectations for Nys on the Mur de Huy. "Within his own team, there is also Skjelmose. We haven't seen Nys yet whether that 1 kilometer at 10% is really his thing. Winning La Fleche Wallonne this year would be amazing."

Bakelants however does see another classic where Nys can already claim victory this spring. "The Amstel Gold Race. The percentages of the Cauberg (800 meters against 6%) are tailor-made for him." If the race played out similarly to 2024 edition with a relatively big group still together after 250 kilometers of racing, Nys' stocks would go through the roof. Then again, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel are on the provisional startlist as well...

Tom Boonen also sees Nys reaching high peaks in the Flemish classics in the future. "Nys is the same type as Alaphilippe. He could also win the Tour of Flanders in the long run."

And can Nys also score at a Grand Tour this year?  "I would take him to the Tour," says Bakelants without hesitation. "I don't understand why Lidl-Trek is going to the Tour without Mads Pedersen. I would rather leave their GC contenders at home. Skjelmose could perhaps finish 4th or 5th in the general classification, while that team has so many riders (like Nys) who could win a Tour stage on paper."