Results Belgian National Championships | Thibau Nys survives crash and late charge from Emiel Verstrynge to defend Belgian crown in Beringen

Thibau Nys defended his Belgian elite men’s cyclocross title in Beringen after a race that swung from early control to late-race chaos, before settling only in the final metres.

European champion Toon Aerts led into the course at the start, but Nys moved through immediately and began forcing the pace around the mine terril. An early front group formed with Nys, Aerts, Emiel Verstrynge, Michael Vanthourenhout, Joran Wyseure, Toon Vandebosch and Niels Vandeputte. Nys quickly began to stretch the line, briefly riding clear before Verstrynge reacted. A crash then disrupted the group, with Verstrynge sliding out and Aerts delayed, while Vanthourenhout stayed with Nys.

The regrouping did not last. On the next major climb, Nys accelerated again and only Vanthourenhout could follow. Behind them, Vandeputte moved into third, chased by Verstrynge and Aerts. Nys then launched harder on the longest climb, staying on the pedals while others ran, opening a gap of around eight seconds. Vanthourenhout limited the damage, but the chase could not bridge.

By the third lap, Nys was again making the difference uphill. With four laps to go, he led by roughly 12 seconds over Vanthourenhout, with Verstrynge at around 16 and Vandeputte near 20. Behind, Aerts’ race fell apart after another crash, ending his podium hopes.

Mid-race, Nys looked in full control, holding around 16 seconds over Vanthourenhout and Verstrynge riding together. Then the race turned. On a fast descent, Nys lost his balance in a deep rut and went down. He remounted quickly, but the gap shrank fast. On the longest climb soon after, Nys grimaced as he looked back and saw the chasers closing.

With two laps to go, Emiel Verstrynge attacked, dropped Michael Vanthourenhout and cut the gap to just five seconds. What had looked like dominance became survival. Nys searched for his rhythm and gradually found it again, while Verstrynge rode on the limit and made a small mistake early in the lap. Nys stretched the gap slightly on the longer uphill section.

Starting the final lap, Nys led by around ten seconds. But Verstrynge refused to fade. He closed to seven seconds, then five. Nys kept looking over his shoulder as the tension built.

On a steep running section, Nys was briefly forced to stop between two climbs. The danger peaked, but Verstrynge also struggled there and could not fully capitalise. As the finish approached, Verstrynge again closed to around five seconds, then made a small mistake just as the line came into view.

For a moment, it even looked as if it might come down to a sprint. Instead, the finish arrived just in time for Thibau Nys, who held on to take his second consecutive Belgian national cyclocross title after a race of control, collapse and courage.