Thibau Nys is looking for consistency in the 2022-2023 season, specially as he has proven to have the legs to race amongst the best, arriving at the finish line in Waterloo in sight of the podium.
“My mission has been accomplished. I didn't dare to take the initiative myself in the last [lap], because then I could still be third," the son of CX legend Sven Nys told Wielerflits. "But I'm glad Lars [van der Haar] is still third. Perhaps this was the best result possible left for us to get."
The 20-year old is still racing at under-23 level for the time being, but is expected to frequently be racing amongst the Elite riders, as is teammate Pim Ronhaar who finished just behind him. “I felt like it was maybe the last opportunity to ride the full cyclo-cross season this year. Because I'll switch to Trek-Segafredo next year, it will be difficult to come to the World Cups next year also. So I was finding a bit of balance. And then I choose to do the full cyclo-cross season this year,” the Belgian then told Cyclingnews.
“Of course, there is another World Championships next year on the U23, in which I can still compete. So I felt that that was the right choice," he continued. Nys rode alongside Lars van der Haar and Michael Vanthourenhout for most of the race in Waterloo, taking advantage of the fast and technical course to ride with the best. It was his second finished race of the season, after a sixth spot in Beringen.
“I think this one is already a pretty heavy trip in the beginning of the season and to add some more jetlag to it would not be perfect. So, yeah, I'm really happy with the decision I made," he said on the decision to travel to the USA, something which teammate Lars van der Haar has already ended, despite a second World Cup round in the coming weekend.
“I will not stop riding cyclo-cross. It's my goal to ride more on the roads in the next couple of years but still feel like a cyclo-cross rider. So not only race three or five or maybe 10 times but really have a cyclo-cross season, maybe starting later and finishing a bit earlier," he concluded.
What a day out @TrekCXCup 😍 We secured two podium spots in the first World Cup of the season with Lucinda and Lars finishing both third 🥉🦁 and some strong performances from our youngsters Thibau and Pim 🔥 We will now travel to Fayetteville 🇺🇸 to contest the 2nd World Cup 🔥
