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The new sports year is traditionally kicked off on 1 January with the GP Sven Nys, the third round of the X²O Bathroom Trophy. Will a Nys also compete for the places of honor on the first day of 2023 for the first time in seven years? Thibau Nys is keen to put himself in the spotlight. “I am going into the new year with a good feeling”, it sounds.
Vincent Van Genechten
It is a season of highs and lows for Thibau Nys. The 20-year-old cyclo-cross rider started strongly with a number of top ten places in the pros and silver at the European Championship for U23. Problems with the back caused a dip afterwards. In the heavily occupied races in Mol (6th) and Gavere (7th), the Baloise Trek Lions rider has again dished up.
“I started the end-of-year period with a good feeling,” says Nys. “The results were good, the back problems are under control. Moreover, I have the feeling that I can do even better and that I am perfectly on track to close the cross season in a good way.”
Nys does not expect the back problems to resurface. “You have no guarantee, but I picked up the exercises to strengthen my back muscles again. I neglected it at the beginning of the season. If you don’t feel anything, you think it will run wild. Not so. Conditionally I have never fallen behind, only it was impossible to strain the back at full intensity for 20-25 minutes during a match.”
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Top five
Two years ago, Nys already raced among the pros in Baal, the U23 race was canceled due to corona. “On Sunday I will be able to really measure myself against the pros in this race for the first time. I have already proven that I am worthy of the top ten, I want to confirm that now. Secretly I hope for top five, that would be very nice. A podium finish? Maybe that is possible, but I don’t want to put that pressure on myself yet.
For his own people – papa Sven won here 12 times, Thibau was the strongest three times among the youth – Nys starts with a lot of confidence. “It is a course that suits me well, although you will not often find me here during the year. In fact, I hate training here, especially in the summer. During the winter it is a bit nicer. Even though there is a lot of mud, it remains a technical course that is easy to ride. I like that.”
Secondenspel
After two rounds of the X2O Bathrooms Trophy, Eli Iserbyt and Denise Betsema lead the rankings. Iserbyt has a lead of four seconds on Lars van der Haar, Michael Vanthourenhout follows at 1:32. There is also a game of seconds in the Trimetal Rookie Trophy (U23). Victor Van de Putte leads the dance for Joran Wyseure (at 00:05) and Jente Michels (00:36).
Betsema’s lead in the Soudal Ladies Trophy is more comfortable. The Dutch has a lead of 3:58 on Fem van Empel, Aniek van Alphen (4:02) follows after more than four minutes.
Program
9:50 am – Junior Women
11h00 – Junior Men
12u15 – U23 The man
1:45pm – Elite Women
15h00 – Elite Mannen
