"It was a bit of a gamble" - Thibau Nys takes the spoils at European Championships and vows more to come after impressive victory
Cyclocross
Thibau Nys made it two Cyclocross starts of the season and two victories on Sunday, taking the elite men's race at the European Championships. In an all-Belgium podium in Zeddam, the Lidl-Trek rider surged in the final lap to leave Joran Wyseure in his wake.
The pair established themselves as the gold and silver contenders midway through the race after working their way to the front. Although Wyseure seemed in control during the penultimate lap of a brutal course, Nys saved his energy to throw the hammer down when it mattered.
After his Koppenbercross win last weekend, Nys won his second elite European Championships title and vowed that his best is yet to come as he straps in for a bust winter season.
"It was a tough one. I think it was a hard and a really nice battle with Joran [Wyseure]. He was super strong and it was really difficult to get rid of each other," Nys said in his post-race interview.
"So I felt, halfway through the race, that it would be a big explosion in the last lap. I mean, it is quite hard, but on the other hand, it is quite difficult also to make a gap."
Thibau Nys wins the 2026 Cyclocross European Championships elite men's race
Nys vows more to come after victory
Acknowledging that an attritional course didn't afford many opportunities, the son of legendary rider Sven Nys claimed that he'll be back for plenty more over the coming weeks - with the European Championships jersey on his shoulders.
He added: "And especially when you have to pull in the front on the section on the road, on the finish line. It takes away a lot of energy and it was a bit of a gamble over there.
"There is a lot more to come. For me, every race is just as important as another one. Next week is just as important as today's European Championships. So, yes, I will try to let the jersey shine."
Second European title for Belgian
After a high-octane race, the Belgian pair took the bell for the final lap in a two-up battle. Nys came good in a technical section he lost ground minutes before, but Wyseure doggedly held on before Nys once again put on the afterburners to put three seconds into his compatriot over the top of the steps.
After biding his time in the penultimate lap, a terrific Nys threw the hammer down in the final sections of the course to build the slimmest of margins ahead of Wyseure and push the limits of a difficult course.
Hitting the home straight solo, Thibau Nys had time to celebrate a second elite men's European title with a terrific performance. Wyseure came home in second and Vandeputte rallied in the final lap to take third place and make it an all-Belgium podium.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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