“Everything went wrong” — Nightmare day for Thibau Nys in Lokeren as Joris Nieuwenhuis capitalises to grab X2O lead

Twenty-four hours after ruling the Koppenberg and lighting up the cyclocross world, Thibau Nys experienced the other side of the sport’s brutality — a mechanical-ruined afternoon at Rapencross Lokeren that turned into a fight for survival rather than glory.

While the European champion stormed to victory on Saturday, Sunday became a catalogue of chaos: cockpit failure, repeated bike swaps, handling issues and a crash in the sand left him shaking his head and pounding his bars in frustration.

“I rode into the pit for a lighter tyre tread, and five metres later my shifters dropped,” Nys explained to VTM Nieuws. “Then I changed again and got a bike with the bars crooked. And after another change the saddle dropped. It was a series of circumstances. Twice I could fight back, but the third time it was too much.”

A fall on the beach section sealed his fate, and Nys rolled home 15th — more than three minutes down and well adrift of the podium battle.

His father Sven Nys — also the team manager — took the blame for the cockpit issue that sparked the spiral:

“His shifters dropped a few times. I worked on the bike today, so it was my responsibility. We filed them to remove the slipperiness, but it was not enough. We need to put something behind it so it stays in place even when he puts full weight on it.”

Despite the anger on course, Nys was clear the incident would be dealt with calmly. “We need to talk this out tonight. That will definitely happen.”

While Nys fought his bike, Joris Nieuwenhuis delivered the perfect response to his Koppenberg disappointment, riding clear of Michael Vanthourenhout to secure the win and move into the X2O Badkamers Trofee lead.

“I had so many doubts yesterday, because losing three minutes felt like a lot,” he admitted. “My goal this year is to win a classification, so I’m happy that I’m ‘back’. This win means more to me than in Heerde because it’s a classification race.”

After recovering from a second-row start, the Dutchman made his move when Vanthourenhout faltered. “You can see today that this lap suits me better. When I got to the front, I saw Michael make a mistake. Then I rode away.”

The confidence boost comes at the perfect time, with the European Championships in Middelkerke looming. “Yesterday you start to doubt a little. Then I’m happy I could turn it around. This helps for the confidence. I’ve trained a lot in the sand in Middelkerke, so I hope that will help.”