Nys, Vandeputte, Aerts, Del Grosso, Nieuwenhuis... What do some of the big men have to say ahead of cyclocross national championships
Cyclocross
This weekend is special in the cyclocross field as the riders tackle the national championships. This Sunday Belgium will have the men's elite race whilst the Netherlands have both men and women ongoing. Some of the top favourites for all races have spoken ahead of the race and we've got a lot of interesting insight.
Netherlands (Oisterwijk)
Tibor del Grosso (Wielerflits): “In the Netherlands, the U23s and the elite compete in one race. So I don’t have to choose which category I’m going to compete in. Fortunately. Is there a chance for me in the elite? Yes, definitely. But I also know that Lars [van der Haar], Pim [Ronhaar] and Ryan [Kamp] and some others will be there again. It's not going to be easy".
Joris Nieuwenhuis: “The past three months have not been the easiest months. Where I started with the ambition to equal last season, I have not started a single race so far. This was of course not the first setback in my career (and not the last). But this time it was different. Something extremely intangible. My body was completely out of whack for a while. This gave a powerless feeling that I did not know from other injuries. There was no protocol that we could follow.”
“So when everyone started the season, I was on the couch for three weeks. Every day I felt my condition decreasing more and more until there was little left. It made me feel insecure. Because will I still be at my level this year? What will the team think about this? What is wrong with me anyway?”
Belgium (Heusden-Zolder)
Thibau Nys (Wielerflits): “They sometimes say that road riders have an advantage there, but I don't know if that's true. That's very relative. You just have to have a good day. I know that Heusden-Zolder is a very difficult cross to win. And certainly if you are the best rider in the race. It's really a matter of choosing a moment. And daring to gamble. On the other hand, you also have to be very attentive.”
“Everyone seems to be at the same level at the moment. Then it really depends from course to course and from day to day who will stand out. I think Crelan-Corendon has a very strong block, Alpecin-Deceuninck can also mean something to each other. Just like the men from Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines. It is a matter of swimming in between them and doing my own thing, like at the European Championships. It is possible that we will enter the last round with seven riders.”
Niels Vandeputte (Het Laatste Nieuws): “The circuit there will be close to my favourite course. I really like coming to Zolder and have achieved several good results there in recent years, both in the youth and elite. I also put those two (Laurens Sweeck and Thibau Nys, ed.) at the top of my list. They both excel on fast courses and also have a sprint in their legs. Don't forget Eli Iserbyt and Michael Vanthourenhout. They are always there when a championship is held. They may not get their favourite course in front of them, but they can always surpass themselves.”
“I know I am not slow. If it turns out that way, I will confidently go to the finish line. There are many possible scenarios at a Belgian Championship. I feel that I have made some progress this season and that gives me some more confidence.”
Toon Aerts (Het Laatste Nieuws): “I went to Calpe to recover after a period of illness and to recuperate from the tough races we have already completed so far. The good weather is good. After the Belgian Championship, we will continue to focus on the World Championship and the remaining cyclo-cross races in Spain. I have often ridden in Heusden-Zolder, but have never been on the podium there. I find it difficult to estimate this Belgian Championship. There can be very tactical racing and that change of course will also have an impact.”
“I count Laurens Sweeck and Thibau Nys as the top favourites for the Belgian title. There are a whole lot of riders below them, who I can put myself below. I have learned to enjoy cyclo-cross. As a top athlete, I always aim for the highest. If it doesn't work, I always try to take the positive with me.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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