"Physically I just can't do it anymore" - Exhausted Thibau Nys to take rest from cyclocross

Thibau Nys started off the cyclocross season in spectacular fashion, taking three wins and each of them were breaking grounds in the elite field. However fatigue and back pain takes over him, and the Belgian is forced to make changes and take rest before aiming for other races this winter.

"Today I didn't have the legs. The past few weeks have not been very bad. I came sixth in Boom and Dublin, but today I felt the battery is completely empty. And it could take a while before it is recharged," Nys shared with Het Laatste Nieuws. "'I don't think this is something I can solve in one or two weeks." The message seems clear, Nys will take some rest and most likely try to rebuild his form once again before resuming competition.

In past years he has also shown inconsistency, but tremendous quality. No exception this year, Baloise - Trek Lions have been on an amazing season so far - partly because of Nys' success - but over the past month he has not finished in a podium of a race - at the time, the victory at the Koppenbergcross. Ever since sixth was his best result, but he's often complained about back pain and isn't able to push full watts throughout the whole hour. Hence, he will rethink his approach to the season and try to work on getting his form back later in the winter.

"We shouldn't panic right away. I have to sit down with my trainer first. But it is a fact that I am now completely at a standstill," he admits. "It may still be salvageable, but drastic changes will have to happen. It's all still early. I shouldn't make hasty decisions, but I might add a week. Physically it's just really over. I proved in Boom and in Dublin that I can fight, but physically I just can't do it anymore."