For a long time, the Belgian cyclo-cross championship seemed to be a demonstration of Thibau Nys, until one mistake put everything back on edge. Emiel Verstrynge sensed his opportunity and brought the title battle back to life until the final round. Nys stated afterwards that he had kept everything under control, but not everyone follows that lecture. Former world champion Bart Wellens makes clear comments on that story in Het Nieuwsblad.
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A mistake opens the door again
Thibau Nys seemed to be taking control of the Belgian Championship early on, until he made an unexpected mistake. This allowed Emiel Verstrynge to reconnect and the tension grew rapidly. In the final lap Verstrynge even rode to Nys’ wheel, which opened up the championship again.
Nys insisted afterwards that the situation had been taken into account and that he never really got into trouble. But according to Bart Wellens, that is an explanation that was only constructed afterwards. “Thibau can say that he handled it smartly in the final round, but that is an afterthought,” said Het Nieuwsblad sharply.
“And hangt Thibau”
According to Wellens, the match could have turned perfectly at that moment. He points to a crucial duel between the two riders. “If Emiel plays the bastard, then Thibau hangs,” he states plainly. Verstrynge chose to walk in a place where Nys tried to continue cycling and thus tried to put his bicycle in front of Nys’s.
According to Wellens, Verstrynge contained just a little too much. “He seemed to be coming past, but then he holds back. If he uses his shoulder there, Thibau does not have a free path.” In that scenario, the Belgian title would have been anything but certain, according to Wellens.
Despite his sharp analysis, Wellens does not deny that Nys is a deserved champion from a sporting point of view. The young Belgian, who only celebrated his 23rd birthday at the beginning of November, already won his second Belgian title in Beringen. That is an achievement that cannot be ignored.
