Thibau Nys made a spectacular start to his 2025 road
campaign, winning the
GP Miguel Indurain with a devastating late attack
reminiscent of the explosivity of the likes of Remco Evenepoel. After a
brilliant winter that saw him take bronze at the Cyclocross World
Championships, the Lidl–Trek rider waited until today to make his first road
appearance of the season, and delivered in style.
“I dreamed about this last night,” Nys laughed in his
post-race flash interview. “I knew I was in good shape, and that the race would
suit me, with that last wall. I think that climb really suited me, but you
never know how the body reacts to the first race. But when the final opened, I
felt that my legs were very good. I knew that a good final was in it, but you
never know what the competition will be like. But we went up the final climb,
then I knew I was going to win.”
Nys was full of praise for the team’s execution, singling
out Bauke Mollema’s presence in the front group as a key factor in allowing him
to save energy for the finale.
“I think we did it perfectly. We were in the right position
at the right time, I stayed calm and just stayed out of the wind in the
beginning. In the final it went fantastic, with Bauke in the leading group so
we didn't have to do anything. On the last climb it was full throttle, and I
could do my thing. I knew that if you reach the top with a five-second lead,
you win the race.”
The win wasn’t a surprise to Nys, who had seen all the right
signs in training.
“I knew I had done what I had to do in the preparation: I
checked all the boxes and received many positive signals. I really feel like I
have made a step, and if I then arrive at these kinds of finishes with good
legs, I knew I could be close. Then it is a matter of waiting to see how the
legs and the body react, but it turned out to be positive.”
The 22-year-old is set to make his debut in the Ardennes
Classics later this month, and Saturday’s performance has already elevated him
into the conversation among the favourites.
“It means a lot. It means that I'm on the right track,
although I think I can still find a few more percentage points in the Tour of
the Basque Country to be really super for the Ardennes classics. But I'm very
happy with where I am. It's nice to win right away, that gives a boost to my
self-confidence.”