The winter of Thibau Nys will remain one with peaks and valleys for the time being. The Belgian champion has had widely varying results in recent weeks and there is a clear reason for that. Nys suffered from back problems in Heusden-Zolder, and these now also seem to have consequences for his further program. An adjustment is more obvious than ever.
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Back problems as a spoilsport
The results tell the story. In Antwerp, Nys struggled with the sand and did not get further than 23rd place. Two days later he improved in Hofstade, where he again competed at the front and finished fourth. However, things went wrong again in Heusden-Zolder: Nys dropped to fourteenth place and admitted afterwards that his back was playing tricks.
After the cross in Heusden-Zolder, Nys went to an osteopath to have his back problems treated. It remains to be seen for the time being how much they weigh exactly.
The calendar will be particularly busy in the coming days, with a three-day event that can be heavy for a rider who is not completely fresh. And right there a decision seems to be made.
Loenhout on the slope
After Gavere there will be a weekend without cross, but then an intense block awaits with Dendermonde (World Cup) on Sunday, Loenhout on Monday (X2O Bathrooms Trophy) and Diegem on Tuesday (Superprestige). According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Nys is considering canceling one of those matches, and Loenhout seems to be the most logical candidate.
Both Van der Poel and Wout van Aert are at the start in Loenhout, which makes it extra difficult for Nys to play a significant role. By dropping that cross, he would also be able to take a day of rest between his competitions, which does not seem like an unnecessary luxury considering his back.
This choice also fits in with New Year’s Day, when Nys will be in action again in Baal. That is his home cross, and he wants to show himself there. He has never been on the podium among the pros, and that remains a clear ambition. Whether his body allows that will have to be seen in the coming days.
