Joris Nieuwenhuis in stellar form on cyclocross return: "This doesn't mean I'll be good all season, but it's a mental boost"

Joris Nieuwenhuis was one of the brightest prospects coming up the ranks over the late 2010's in cyclocross, but has made the move - as several others - to the road with Team DSM over the last few years. He is returning to a full-time Cyclocross schedule with Baloise - Trek Lions this year, and has kicked off the season with great form.

Talking to Wielerstory.com after this Sunday's race in Maasmechelen, Nieuwenhuis said that “I was lucky that it stayed together for a very long time. I decided to ride my own course. I managed to find a very good focus and I kept it for a long time.” His debut with the Belgian team was at the Nacht van Woerden where he finished in fifth place, but his race in the World Cup race was rather impressive.

Having started towards the back due to his reduced CX calendar over the last few years, the Dutchman - now 26 years old - has ridden through the field and was inside the fight for the podium inside the final half of the race. “I always took a little distance from the obstacles so that I could get over them quickly. I caught up at the right times. Because everyone was close together, I suddenly rode in front," he continued.

He was in a group with Kevin Kuhn, Michael Vanthourenhout and Niels Vandeputte when the race-winning moves went off, however a puncture has taken away what would be his best result in years at the World Cup. "Unfortunately at the end I ran flat in the front. I had to keep riding on the rim for a long time and my race was over. The focus was then completely gone. All in all, I have been happy for a long time that I am in such good shape and that I am starting my season this way," he said, having finished in 11th place.

Having signed for Baloise - Trek Lions, in the absence of Toon Aerts, Nieuwenhuis will have more room to develop and focus on the season, with still several months left of racing. “I came to this squad to work with Paul [Van den Bossch, team coach]. Now I'm in a group where everyone has a lot of experience. Sven Nys is the greatest cyclo-cross rider ever," the Dutchman added. "If you can get so many tips and tricks from that, then you will automatically ride well.”

“If I see that I can do this now, maybe there is more to it. One swallow does not make summer, of course. This doesn't mean I'll be good all season, but it's a mental boost," he concluded. Nieuwenhuis has been selected to ride the European Championships for the Netherlands, but will not be in action today at the Koppenbergcross.