© BELGIUM
Thibau Nys will start with the professionals at the BK cyclocross in Lokeren on Sunday. The Baloise Trek Lions rider won last Sunday in Zonhoven with the promises and is also leader in the World Cup, but is struggling with his back and does not dare to put his hand in the fire for a good result. “If my back doesn’t bother me, a lot is possible. The stage is realistic, but at the same time very ambitious, because then everything really has to fall into place.”
Vincent Van GenechtenBron: BELGIAN
Nys already showed some nice things with the elite this year. He finished fifth twice in the American World Cups, was seventh in the Koppenbergcross, seventh in Gavere and eighth in Diegem. But at the same time there were major setbacks such as the races in De Beekse Bergen, Antwerp, Koksijde or Baal where he did not even finish.
“I’ve been feeling physically great all season,” he says. “But there are competitions where it doesn’t work at all because of my back problems. In the run-up to my season, I kind of neglected that back. That’s a lesson I’ll take to next year. Now we are working hard on it, but it is not always easy to deal with, because I never know before a race whether or not I will be good in a cross.”
“By taking enough rest for the BK, letting that back loosen, having it treated properly and doing my exercises, I hope to be rested at the start,” he continues. “When I’m ‘fresh’, when that back has recovered, I hope to capitalize on my good condition, but at the same time: it turns with the wind and I’m never sure if the back won’t play tricks on me. It’s frustrating, but I have to learn to deal with it.”
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Podium
Nys dreams of a good result at the Belgian Championships in Lokeren. “In Diegem I rode, in my eyes, physically my strongest cross of the season. It was a highlight for me and the confirmation that I am ready to show very nice things, both with the promises and elite. It was a pity that the back played up afterwards in Baal and Koksijde, but in Zonhoven it was good again and I hope for the BC that that back is ‘ready’ for an hour of cross country.”
“The stage is realistic”, he ends, “but at the same time really ambitious. Then everything should fall into place. A podium place is possible, but I certainly don’t assume it. It might as well be a fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth or third place (laughs). Anyway, I will do my utmost to be at the start in Lokeren with the feeling of Zonhoven. Honestly? I will be satisfied if I can do my ‘thing’. My race is successful if I have been able to ride my cross the way I want to and not feel that my back hinders me. Then a result does not matter much, as long as I ride without pain.”
