“I don’t see myself as the savior of cyclocross”: Thibau Nys plays down expectations ahead of Koppenbergcross return
Cyclocross
Thibau Nys returns to cyclocross on Sunday at the Koppenbergcross, bringing renewed attention to a discipline searching for its next generation of leading personalities. With Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert yet to confirm the extent of their winter campaigns, the Belgian champion will be one of the main attractions as the season gathers momentum.
At 23, Nys occupies an increasingly important position in the sport. His return to the mud comes with expectations, but he is reluctant to accept responsibility for the future of the entire discipline.
“I don’t see myself as the savior of cyclocross,” Nys said during an open training session ahead of his debut. “It is something I want to stand for and fight for, but I’m certainly not going to solve it alone.”
The timing of his return adds to the interest. Van Aert has indicated that he intends to race cyclocross, potentially during the Christmas period, while Van der Poel could prioritize his 2027 road campaign with the arrival of his child expected in January. Their schedules remain uncertain, leaving Nys as one of the most prominent names available during the opening weeks of the winter.
Thibau Nys during the 2025-2026 cyclocross season
Sven Nys sees a need for new personalities
Thibau Nys' father, Sven Nys, believes that compelling personalities are important to cyclocross's appeal, particularly as the number of appearances by Van der Poel and Van Aert declines.
“We have seen exciting races so far, but we are looking for personalities a bit, aren’t we? Just like Mathieu and Wout, Eli Iserbyt used to be. Men who have a story that can give cyclocross extra cachet,” Sven Nys told Het Laatste Nieuws.
His son is among the few riders who could realistically challenge Van der Poel and Van Aert when all three line up together. That possibility gives the sport a potential new rivalry. “That offers perspective for the future,” Sven Nys said.
“No one can predict that, and I won’t try either. But ultimately, the goal is to be able to go into a duel at some point and really fight such a battle to the finish line.”
Read also
A shorter preparation than last winter
Nys arrives at the Koppenbergcross with a considerably different preparation from the one that preceded his victory there last year. In 2025, he completed a nine-week block of cyclocross training before winning the race. This time, he has had only three weeks to prepare after representing Belgium at the World Championships in Montreal.
His road season also included a lengthy spell away from the bike. After taking 12 days off and going on holiday in Japan, he began preparing for the winter campaign with limited time available to complete the necessary training.
Nys acknowledged that his confidence is different from a year ago. “A year ago I had a lot of self-confidence. I knew everything was going to be fine. That is completely different now, but it was also factored in. I am where I wanted to be given the circumstances and am satisfied with my form,” he explained.
“Because everything had to be crammed into three weeks, I was unable to do quite a few important training sessions. We’ll just have to make do with it and hope it’s enough.”
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- As you are describing Jonas fighting before he'd had time to build back the muscle he'd lost from the crash, I still feel uncomfortable about it. It felt like crossing a line from driven to a bit obsessed with winning three Tours in a row. Jonas must still have been unwell when he made the decision to go all-in for that Tour instead of, say, targeting the Vuelta, wonder if he was put under any pressure. I guess I won't get much support in this view!Hills3330-10-2026
- Yes, I meant to add to what had been said about that stage already.Hills3330-10-2026
- Pretty sure you're right. Jonas may be served better by going to do another Giro, I don't know, we all speculate but never truly know until the season rolls around. I will say this, we are all lucky to be living in the time we are, the best cyclists in history are racing right now, it's awesome to watch.awp30-10-2026
- Considering the severity of those injuries, his performance at that tour was absolutely incredible. That lunge for the line on stage 11 (IIRC), he was a complete animal to get fit, turn up, and fight the entire way to Paris for second.wrsty30-10-2026
- Google this headline and read. Calling me names doesn't make you right and me wrong. I'm mostly always right though lol, you're welcome.. 'I wasn't happy, we had to change something' – Jonas Vingegaard reveals he considered stepping away from pro cycling last yearawp30-10-2026
- I speak from experience. If I'm wrong, feel free to call me out.awp30-10-2026
- Actually it should be the reverse. Sexias should get used to wining a GT. That means Giro Vuelta (one of them not both). Get a Podium/wins there would be good for morale especially when you look at the self blaming mentality of Sexias. TDF is simply unwinnable and the probability of crashes is high.abstractengineer30-10-2026
- it is easy to check whether he has the engine for today's races or not. Just do a VO2 max test. Then check the endurance. Recovery is the hardest to check but 5 day at the same effort should help understand. But even Froome has said that he couldn't compete against Pogi. After this it becomes difficult, whether physical or mental limit. Whether you find it or not, tactics become very important to win. Neither Ineos nor Bernal are known for their tactics. All they know is brute force and domestique train.abstractengineer30-10-2026
- I have only one word "Delusional"abstractengineer30-10-2026
- Geez do you have a medical and cycling degree? I highly doubt it! You are the only one on here spewing this crap about a C7 affecting his TT position...LOL !frieders330-10-2026
Loading
Write a comment