"We won't see the payoff right away": Sven Nys expects his son to dominate in cyclocross thanks to his Tour debut
Cyclocross
The cyclocross peloton is trembling as one of the sport's biggest stars is ready to make a 2025/26 debut at the Koppenberg this weekend. So far, it's been all fun and games, but with the presence of European champion Thibau Nys, the competition will grow in seriousness. And the 23-year-old who also happens to be the Belgian champion will aim to win from the first pedal stroke after a productive summer with a Tour de France debut.
That should give Nys an edge over his rivals. "We won't see that payoff of the Tour de France right away," team manager of the Baloise Glowi Lions Sven Nys told WielerFlits. The three-week high-intensity race across France is known to be crucial for riders' development in a long run. And that's also what father Nys expects to see from his son this winter.
"It won't be [reflected] so much in extra acceleration. I think it will be more in increased consistency. Finishing a Tour de France the way he did will definitely pay off. Everyone else has, but Thibau still had a bit left and the feeling that he wasn't completely exhausted."
So how strong can we expect Nys to be in his first races? "I assume he'll be ready to compete [for victory] next week," says Sven. "Thibau is someone who dares to race, and that will give the whole team a boost. He really wanted to be there at the Koppenberg [on Saturday], and we've been building and working hard towards this period."
"Every day is important now. That has to do with being ambitious in two different disciplines. You have to make choices. Of course, the Koppenberg is early, but I think it's possible."
Thibau Nys was overloaded towards the end of his road season
Hit the brick wall
The end of his road season came a little sooner than expected. After a victorious start in April at the GP Miguel Indurain (1.Pro), Nys stacked up 44 race days within less than five months, concluding the season at Bretagne Classic at the end of August. Because Nys was too tired, he had to skip the two Canadian races. A necessary step to avoid further problems that would carry on into the winter.
"Afterward, he stayed off the bike completely for two weeks," says his father, Sven. "He was able to do the things any young guy his age would do. Meet up with friends, go out for a meal, pursue other hobbies. He just unplugged for a bit."
Ready to win from the start
"That's not only physically crucial after such a tough summer, but also mentally. After those two weeks of rest, you saw the hunger return and the desire to go for it, and try to dominate in this discipline. I've seen that grow every week, right up until the Koppenbergcross is coming up. I'm convinced he'll be in good shape right away."
Thibau Nys will briefly get to enjoy the European champion's jersey in Koppenberg
In 2024/25, Thibau Nys was able to pick up five cyclocross wins with the European and Belgian titles as two highlights of his campaign. And for this winter? He aims for even more. "Let's start at the beginning and try to perform well in those first races," Sven puts it into perspective. "He'll need to draw confidence from that for the upcoming races."
Although absent from Belgium's initial lineup for the home European Championships in Middelkerke, Nys as a defending champion has of course the right to participate. But he'll face a tough opposition. "Retaining a title like the European Championships won't be easy, because it's a course that's a little less suited to him. But with good fitness, you can always do a little more. And we'll see if that fitness is good enough."
The Baloise Glowi Lions are once again set to be the point of reference for all other cyclocrossers with Lucinda Brand already back in her winning ways in women's peloton. In the meantime, Pim Ronhaar has been also riding around in a great shape with three second places. And now Nys is about to join the fun.
"We're definitely growing. We've been consistently on the podium these past few weeks. With Pim Ronhaar, we have someone who's racing for the win, and you can see Lars van der Haar improving. We're confident, but sometimes I can also be satisfied with second place. Things are looking good for the coming weeks," concludes the team manager.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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