Thibau Nys suffered an sickness two weeks ahead of the Cyclo-Go International Championships which brought about him to leave out the Maasmechelen International Cup after which abandon tomorrow at Hoogerheide. Alternatively, he rose to the instance in Liévin on Sunday and was once within the thick of the fight for medals.
In spite of Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel and compatriot Wout van Aert, who’ve gained 10 of the final 11 global titles, using transparent, Nys was once in a position to clinch the bronze medal within the elite males’s race after a intently fought fight with Joris Nieuwenhuis (Netherlands).
After successful global cyclo-cross titles at junior and under-23 ranges the Belgian stepped as much as new heights to take his first elite medal in the back of the 2 stars of the self-discipline.
“I think it was the highest possible result, behind Wout [Van Aert] and Mathieu [Van der Poel] is like a dream,” added Nys.
“I had quite a difficult two weeks, but I knew that if I could have my level then a podium was possible. I think I did everything right last week, I gave the body the rest it needed. Then I was riding on my level again today.
“Wout [Van Aert] did not have the beginning that he sought after after which everybody was once using their very own tempo and their very own rhythm as a result of you’ll be able to’t in reality center of attention on anyone else on that route.
“The moment Wout came past me, I was struggling a bit with the right lines and also the right moment to change a bike. Then at one moment, I felt that my pace could be a little bit higher than Joris [Nieuwenhuis’] and I could make a difference.
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“I feel I made the suitable assault on the proper second, using the climb to make a distinction between us.”
Nys believes that another road season will help him to improve and hopes to ‘make a big step’ to close in on Van der Poel, whose seventh title win saw him match the record of Erik De Vlaeminck for the most men’s World Championship titles.
The young Belgian has shown the capacity to compete with the best, beating Van Aert following a blistering last-lap attack at the World Cup in Benidorm just weeks before the Worlds. But he believes there is still a ‘big difference’ to match Van der Poel’s levels.
“I will be able to nonetheless support so much within the subsequent couple of years and make a large step,” added the 22-year-old.
“I feel my street season goes to lend a hand me so much with that. There’s nonetheless fairly a large distinction.
“You see in the last few races there is still a lot of work to do to get closer to Mathieu [Van der Poel].”
Looking ahead to the road in 2025
Thibau Nys is set to make his Grand Tour debut this season and he already has one Tour de France stage in his mind.
The 22-year-old had a breakthrough road season last year with Lidl-Trek taking a win at each stage race he started, a total of eight pro victories, and the overall classification in the Tour of Hungary.
After having success in the smaller stage races last season Nys will ride his first Grand Tour in 2025 and will be vying for a Tour de France spot. The other option, he confirmed at training camp back in January, will be the Vuelta a España.
The Belgian also has his sights set specifically on stage two of the Tour, which finishes with a kick-up to Boulogne-sur-Mer, with another chance potentially presenting itself to Nys on stage 7 atop the Mûr-de-Bretagne.
“I can perform a little Ardennes classics and I can do my first Grand Excursion.” said Nys after ‘Cross Worlds. “I simply hope to up the extent up in comparison to final season.
“I feel I gained so much the final street season, and now I simply sought after to make it occur within the larger races as neatly. Perhaps [the Tour de France], it’s nonetheless no longer made up our minds but, it’s an possibility.
“It is going to be a finding out procedure, however however, I need to move there for a outcome. The extent is so prime and the spots are fairly necessary, so that you simply must be there and be able to win. You’ll’t move in there only for revel in.
“Stage two looks perfect,” he stated, part jokingly, “we will see. I will just try to be at my best level possible and see what happens. Maybe it’s too early or comes at the right time. We will see.”
