“He should actually win, given this field”: Eli Iserbyt names Thibau Nys clear Koppenbergcross favorite despite form doubts
Cyclocross
Eli Iserbyt is not entirely convinced by what he has seen during the opening weeks of the cyclocross season. While Michael Vanthourenhout has emerged as the standout performer, winning four of his first five races, the former Belgian champion believes too many of his rivals have yet to reach a competitive level. He also expects Thibau Nys to be the man to beat when the riders line up for Sunday’s Koppenbergcross.
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws, Iserbyt assessed the early-season hierarchy and offered a few pointed observations about the current generation. In his view, Vanthourenhout has established himself as the strongest rider so far, but the Koppenberg presents a particular challenge for the Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw rider.
“It's not his favorite course. Michael is afraid of that race, and especially of the finish,” Iserbyt said. He believes the final climb is simply too demanding for Vanthourenhout to overcome without a substantial advantage beforehand.
“If Michael wants to win on Sunday, he needs to have at least a 25-second advantage at the foot of the final climb of the Koppenberg,” he explained.
Nys, meanwhile, is expected to make his return to cyclocross after a road season disrupted by injuries. Iserbyt considers the Belgian the clear favorite, although he is not convinced that Nys will arrive at his best.
“It would be logical if Thibau wins, but you shouldn't underestimate his road season with those injuries. I don't think Thibau is currently brimming with confidence or already in the form of his life, but he should actually win, given this field,” Iserbyt said.
Thibau Nys during the 2025-2026 cyclocross season
Iserbyt questions the depth of the men's field
His concerns extend well beyond the Koppenbergcross. Iserbyt believes the gap between Vanthourenhout and the rest of the men's peloton is currently too wide, with few riders demonstrating the consistency or results needed to challenge the leading names.
“Of the current cyclocross riders, besides Thibau, only Michael and Laurens Sweeck have a palmarès, but the latter has completely missed the start of the season, and that is actually true of everyone else. Have they perhaps spent too much time racing on the road? Apart from Michael, nobody is at the required level,” he said.
Niels Vandeputte, who currently leads the UCI cyclocross ranking, also came under scrutiny. Iserbyt questioned why the Belgian had not made a stronger start to the campaign, particularly with the leading contenders still building their form.
“I don't understand why a smart guy like Niels Vandeputte, who is now 26 and, incidentally, number one in the UCI ranking, hasn't started this season like a cannon or at least raced every cross with a knife between his teeth to collect as many victories as possible before the top riders begin,” Iserbyt commented.
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Women's cyclocross offers a different picture
Iserbyt's assessment is considerably more positive when it comes to the women's competition. He pointed to Marie Schreiber, Fem van Empel, Lucinda Brand and Denise Betsema as riders helping to produce entertaining races. “It's exciting, and they aren't afraid to throw an elbow every now and then,” he said.
The former rider even suggested changing the race schedule to give the women's event the more prominent afternoon slot.
“It would actually make more sense to have the women start at 3 p.m. now and the men at 1 p.m. That was tried once in Iowa, in the United States, but 80 percent of the spectators left after the men's race. Would that still be the case now? Perhaps it would be an interesting experiment until Wout van Aert joins,” Iserbyt said.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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