“Thibau Nys should be the kind of rider...” – Van der Poel & Van Aert’s biggest cyclocross challenger? European champion returns to the field on the Koppenberg

The men’s elite cyclocross season is about to take a sharp turn with the return of European champion Thibau Nys, who will line up this weekend on the Koppenberg, one of the most iconic and brutal courses in the sport. Both Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are still yet to make their seasonal debuts — and with no clear word yet on when either will begin their winter campaigns, all eyes turn to the 22-year-old Belgian to see if he can seize early control of the standings.

According to analyst Bart Wellens, Nys’ comeback could prove decisive. “For most riders, the Koppenberg would be far too tough a race to start with, but Thibau usually wins or performs very well in his first race,” Wellens told Het Nieuwsblad.

The former world champion added that Nys has targeted both the Koppenbergcross and next week’s European Championships in Pontchâteau as his major early-season goals — and has been impatient to get started. “He even asked if he could already line up in Overijse. That means either he’s so eager that he can’t wait, or he’s nervous and wanted a race in his legs before the Koppenberg,” Wellens said.

Wellens believes that Nys now faces the challenge of translating raw brilliance into consistency across the full winter. “I’m really curious to see whether Thibau has made another step compared to last winter,” he said. “Back then he won a few beautiful races, but the regularity has to improve. Thibau should be the kind of rider who, even when the course doesn’t suit him, still finishes in the top three or four every week. I think he’s starting to expect that of himself too.”

While the focus naturally falls on Nys’ return, Wellens also praised the tactical intelligence on display elsewhere across the weekend — noting that both Fem van Empel and Michael Vanthourenhout used race craft, not brute force, to secure victory in Heerde and Overijse respectively. “The smartest riders won,” he said, contrasting Van Empel’s calm precision with Aniek van Alphen’s over-exertion, and highlighting how Vanthourenhout’s patience triumphed where Pim Ronhaar’s aggression faltered.

With Van der Poel and Van Aert still absent and questions swirling about when they’ll return, Nys’ Koppenberg debut could set the tone for the rest of the winter — and perhaps confirm whether Belgium already has its next great all-rounder ready to challenge cyclocross’ two superstars.