"If necessary, I won't start at the World Cup" - Thibau Nys unbothered by UCI president's threats

David Lappartient, the president of the UCI, recently threatened to impose a rule on how if cyclocross riders dont race the World Cup in it's entirety, they may be prevented from racing the World Championships. Thibau Nys was also put on the spotlight, and now the Baloise - Trek Lions rider has reacted to those words.

Amidst Lappartient's interview with DirectVeló, he targeted Nys specifically: “Nys had a bad result at the European Cyclocross Championships and says he is tired, but why would you ride in [Superprestige] Niel on Saturday? If you're tired, you don't ride. Now Thibau Nys is someone who needs cyclocross, but he is not the only one who ignores World Cups.” This comes as an attempt from the UCI to have the main cyclocross riders race the World Cup, which it owns. Ever since it's expansion from 9 to 14 rounds, more and more riders opt to skip several races.

"I'm not concerned with that at all," the youngster finally responded. "They only break their own windows. If necessary, I won't start at the World Cup," Nys told VTM. "I just don't have that World Cup classification in mind. The result is that you choose race by race." Nys' response is firing back at the threats which have been questioned by everyone who's been asked within the cyclocross world. Alongside him, most of the discipline's stars - both male and female - skip races at some point, to accommodate and prepare for other goals.

Baloise - Trek Lions in specific have most of their riders focusing on other cups, or none at all. Nys however will not be pressured into changing his plans after these statements. "I will also start in Dublin next week. So it is certainly not about the travel or the type of organization, I just think I should be able to plan my own program. Everyone has the right to that," he concludes.