Like Father, Like Son? A Close Look at Thibau Nys’ Cyclocross Bike Compared to His Dad’s from a Decade Ago Ahead of the World Championships

Biking has steadily thrown up very a success familial dynasties. Former international champion at the highway and a couple of international champion in cyclocross, Mathieu van der Poel, is the son of former cyclocross international champion Adri van der Poel, in addition to the grandson of Milan-San Remo winner Raymond Poulidor and Paris-Roubaix winner, Magnus Bäckstedt’s daughters, Zoe and Elynor, experience for Canyon-Sram zondacypto and UAE Staff ADQ respectively. 

It’s, on the other hand, ordinary to discover a father-son duo who no longer best competed in the similar self-discipline but in addition at the similar motorcycles. Sven Nys, broadly thought to be the best cyclocross rider in historical past, rode a lot of his profession aboard Colnago machines however switched to using Treks within the latter years. His son, Thibau Nys, now rides for Lidl-Trek at the highway and the Baloise Glowi Lions at the ‘pass box, in each circumstances using Trek motorcycles. 

Upfront of the 2025 UCI Cyclocross Global Championship this weekend in Liévin, France, we check out podium contender and present Eu and Belgian champion Nys Jr’s system and examine it to his father’s motorcycles from ten years in the past to peer what, if anything else, has modified on this planet of cyclocross tech.

Thibau Nys’ Trek Boones

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As Eu Champion, Thibau Nys has the choice of an all blue system along his same old faded inexperienced group factor Trek Boone(Symbol credit score: Baloise Glowi Lions)Whilst it is as fashionable as devoted cyclocross motorcycles get, it is nonetheless similar to older motorcycles in some ways.(Symbol credit score: Baloise Glowi Lions)

Thibau Nys rides one in every of a couple of Trek Boones in a dimension 56. The devoted cyclocross motorcycle stays in Trek’s lineup in spite of the fad for competition like Specialised to morph their cyclocross motorcycles into gravel machines in recent times, as has took place with the Specialised Crux. 

Nys Jr’s system is fitted with a Sram Pink AXS groupset, arrange with a unmarried entrance chainring and an excessively low profile chain catcher fixed to the very base of the seat tube. We can not make out the scale of the chainring, however it does come with an built-in SRAM Pink energy meter. His cranks are 172.5mm and glance to have Shimano XTR pedals fixed to them. 

His cassette is a 10-33 in those photographs, however the group has knowledgeable me that he’ll transfer out for a 10-36 possibility relying at the route. 

Tyres also are route dependant, however right here we see a suite of Staff Version Problem Limus, a dirt tread designed to be used within the heaviest prerequisites of the season the place traction is prioritised over velocity. 

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Cyclocross continues to be the final stronghold for tubular wheels outdoor of observe racing, with the tyres bodily glued to the rim. Tubulars are more uncomplicated to experience on when flat and do not include a chance of ‘burping,’ wherein air escapes beneath laborious cornering with low pressures, as can also be the case with tubeless methods. 

Any other house the place cyclocross motorcycles nonetheless seem to be flying the flag for older tech is within the cockpit. Thibau’s Boone nonetheless includes a separate bar and stem, and not using a inside hose routing till the headset. Given the higher incidence of crashes in cyclocross I believe that is as a lot a crash insurance coverage selection, the place bars can rotate as a substitute of snap all over massive affects, as it’s an ergonomic one. 

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Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 wheels are shod with group version Problem tubular tyres, that have silk casings reasonably than cotton. (Symbol credit score: Baloise Glowi Lions)A Sram Pink 10-33 cassette is fitted right here, however Nys Jr will switch to a 10-36 for some classes. (Symbol credit score: Baloise Glowi Lions)The virtually glow-in-the-dark inexperienced of the usual group factor motorcycle is in all probability a nod to the group sponsor, Glowi. (Symbol credit score: Baloise Glowi Lions)The decals at the Eu Champion’s model had been blued out, to present an excessively graceful glance. (Symbol credit score: Baloise Glowi Lions)Sven Nys’ Trek Boones

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(Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)(Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)

Thibau’s father, Sven, additionally rode a dimension 56 Trek Boone again in 2014. That was once a season the place the usage of disc brakes was once in a transitional section, with some riders adopting them and others resolutely sticking to cantilever brakes. Sven, for his phase, races the season on a couple of Trek Boones, one disc-equipped, and one with cantis. 

The geometry of the body has shifted moderately within the final decade, with a extra horizontal best tube at the 2014 version. This must make shouldering the motorcycle more uncomplicated however would possibly make it tougher to move round on technical descents. the lowered seatpost stickup may even have much less flex, however the 2015 Boone had a integrated ‘Isospeed Decoupler,’ which added compliance to the rear finish. 

Sven raced his latter years on Dugast tyres, now a subsidiary of Vittoria, however then as now, they’re 33mm broad tubulars glued to Bontrager rims. Additionally, spherical bars characteristic within the cockpit, as they do on his son’s system. 

The place issues vary basically is within the brakes and the drivetrain. Working cantilevers is a large distinction, however even the disc-equipped system has quick-release wheels reasonably than thru-axles, expanding the possibilities of disc rub. Sven additionally rode with Shimano Dura-Ace gearing with a 2x setup, however by contrast to the cable actuated brakes either one of his motorcycles used digital gearing. 

Dura-Ace derailleurs of that generation did not characteristic a grab for larger chain retention, and so in addition to offering higher equipment vary the entrance derailleur acted as a series catcher, despite the fact that did building up the chance of dust clogging the drivetrain. in spite of this, Sven’s motorcycle can also be observed with an extra chain catcher within the little ring. 

Working a 2x device additionally allowed Sven to use a tighter 11-28 cassette, which means smaller jumps between gears, permitting the Belgian to handle the optimal cadence. 

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Spherical bars, exterior hoses and wires? Plus ce exchange. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)Mounting the cable information to the fork crown reasonably than on the higher headset bearing house reduces fork judder. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)A 39/46 Dura-Ace double is a unprecedented sight at the moment in a dominant 1x scene. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)An 11-28 cassette permits for smaller gaps between the gears, with the added vary being supplied via the double chainset. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)I in truth run those brakes nonetheless on my traveling motorcycle, despite the fact that they have been at first designed for cyclocross racing. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)disc rotors will indisputably supply higher preventing energy, despite the fact that brief launch wheels may just purpose rotor alignment problems. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)Dugast Rhino tyres, versus the Problem tubs of his son. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)The tubular rims on his disc-equipped motorcycle have been wider than at the rim brake system, offering a extra solid platform for the tyre. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)Now not XTR, however Shimano pedals right here to check the groupset. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)Regardless of the relative safety of working a entrance derailleur, a series catcher continues to be fitted to prevent the chain escaping down the interior of the little ring. (Symbol credit score: Robin Wilmott)