Thibau Nys marked his 24th birthday on Thursday, capping a week that saw the Belgian cyclist secure a victory at the European Cyclo-cross Championships.
The rider, who has won both of the two cross races he has entered in recent weeks, received a public tribute from his mother, Isabelle Nijs.
In a post shared on Instagram, Isabelle Nijs expressed her pride in her son’s development as both an athlete and an individual. “You will always be my little boy. But seeing you grow into the man you are is my greatest pride. Happy 24th birthday,” she wrote, as reported by WielerNieuws.
The birthday celebration follows Nys’s performance at the European Championships last Sunday, where he claimed the title. Reflecting on his current status in the sport, Nys said that his perspective on winning has evolved since his earlier successes.
“This feels different than the first, two years ago. In the meantime, two Belgian titles have also been added,” Nys said on Sunday. “Maybe I am taking it a bit too lightly and will soon realize even more how beautiful this is, but of course, it does get a little bit familiar.”
Sven Nys, Thibau’s father and a former champion, also acknowledged the milestone. While his public comments were more reserved, he shared a congratulatory message from his team, the Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions.
“I am very happy. He is the big favorite. To finish it like that on a course where that is not so evident, that is a great performance,” Sven Nys said on Sunday.
Thibau Nys is scheduled to continue his season on the cyclo-cross circuit, building on his current momentum. His next competition follows the standard calendar for the Baloise Verzekeringen-Het Poetsbureau Lions team.
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