"The question of whether he will threaten Sven's nine after his first title is worryingly ridiculous" - Thibau Nys comes under fire in Belgian press

Belgian cyclocross sensation Thibau Nys has found himself under scrutiny in the Belgian media, despite a stellar winter season that has seen him clinch both the Belgian and European cyclocross titles. At just 22 years old, Nys has already made significant strides in his career, but comparisons to his legendary father, Sven Nys, have drawn mixed reactions.

In a column for HLN, Michel Wuyts addressed the debate surrounding Nys and the expectations placed on him. "The question of whether Thibau Nys will threaten Sven's nine after his first title is, besides absurd, worryingly ridiculous," Wuyts stated, dismissing premature comparisons to Sven's illustrious career.

Wuyts further elaborated on the challenges of comparing father and son in such a demanding sport. "To now state that cross-country rider Thibau will reach higher peaks than dad-cannibal is extremely premature," he wrote.

However, Wuyts acknowledged Thibau’s physical and mental attributes that distinguish him as a top talent. "I take it for granted that Thibau Nys achieves higher powers in five and ten minute tests than his father did then," he noted. "I also see that son Nys is in top form with an air of incorruptibility. In Zolder, from lap two onwards, there was no frown on that boy's face that betrayed a hint of fear of failure. The father sometimes suffered from that at high stakes."

Despite his praise for Thibau’s abilities, Wuyts cautioned against expecting the younger Nys to replicate his father’s remarkable numbers. "For multi-talented men, quality is more important than quantity. Thirty victories in a season, achieved by Sven in 2007, have become unachievable. Longer road campaigns will prevent Thibau from racing even more than he does now," Wuyts explained.