Thibau Nys on his form, facing Pogacar, and that surprising Flèche Wallonne stat: "I was shocked"

In the Dutch village of Berg en Terblijt, Nys saw teammate Mattias Skjelmose take the victory, and three days later, Nys himself was the team’s leader at the Flèche Wallonne. However, Nys visibly suffered because of the cold conditions that hit the Ardennes and couldn't work his magic on the Mur de Huy. With Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Eschborn-Frankfurt still to come, he has two more great opportunities to show off his skills.

Thibau, how are you doing two days after the Flèche Wallonne?
"Good, good. Thursday was still a tough day. We already did a recon of Liège, and I could feel that my body was in the right phase of recovery. That’s very important, of course."

During that recon, was it tough because of the aftermath of the Flèche Wallonne or because of the bad weather on the day itself?
"Both. It wasn’t ideal, but we had a more relaxed day on Friday, so that was nice."

What's your overall feeling after doing the Amstel and Huy combo?
"Satisfied. It certainly wasn’t bad, but somehow I did expect a little more. Liège will be the hardest one, but I’ll just try to get the best out of it."

What frustrated you the most?
"That I didn’t have that extra acceleration in the tank anymore in Huy. I’m not talking about winning, because that wouldn't have been very realistic, but about not being able to do my thing. Everyone was cold, so that's no excuse, but I didn't achieve the top result I was hoping for. Still, twelfth in the Amstel and eighth in Huy isn’t bad at all. Hopefully, I can fight for the top ten again in Liège."

Your first Monument.
"I’m really looking forward to it. It’s definitely going to be tough. First and foremost, my goal is to help Mattias as much as possible, and second, to get a result myself. We'll see if both can happen. It’s a terribly hard race."

Did the Amstel teach you anything useful for Liège, considering it’s a race over 250 kilometers?
"That I can handle it and that I don’t need to be afraid of it. It’s a different kind of effort, but I’m in good shape and, with the right fueling, I can manage that effort."

What makes it different?
"It becomes more of a survival race, and positioning matters less toward the end because you're moving up based on your legs rather than on nerves. That’s nice. Everything needs to be spot-on: missing a bottle or a gel has consequences, so even after five hours of racing, you really have to stay mentally sharp."

It was also your first two times ever racing against Tadej Pogacar.
"Tadej is very friendly. He's impressive, but he wasn’t terrifying in the most recent races. Mind you, I’ve seen him do plenty of terrifying things before, and the chances are high he’ll do so again on Sunday. Though the Flèche Wallonne was spectacular in itself, of course."

Did you see that stat about the top ten in the Flèche Wallonne?
"About how Tadej was the oldest rider in the top ten? I was shocked."

I've heard you say: you have to seize the opportunities when they come. This seems to confirm that.
"The young riders are at such a high level, and you just have to be there, because in five years, there might be a whole new generation."

Do you see any big obstacles for yourself in Liège?
"I hope I make it up the double climb Stockeu-Haute-Levée well, because for me that's more decisive than La Redoute or Roche-aux-Faucons. If I can get over those first two more 'easily', I can ride for a very good result. If I’m already at my limit there, that will be harder."

What have you learned so far from the build-up toward this week?
"That’s something I really enjoy. For example, I learned that the Basque Country is a very good preparation, and it’s something I’ll probably do more often — depending on which direction I evolve in. In terms of Flanders, Strade Bianche, or San Remo. But this build-up has been flawless, and I’ve gotten to know my body better. I know what I do and don’t need."

What do you need, and what don’t you need?
"I need a lot of hours on the bike, and in the first phase of my preparation, I shouldn't focus on intensity. If I can combine that with altitude training, it's a golden formula for me. Then, adding the intensity in the last two or three weeks before my key block really makes it work for me."

What would you rather have: a top ten in Liège or a win in Eschborn-Frankfurt, where you’ll race on Thursday?
"That’s a really good question. Uhm… I think a top ten in Liège would mean more than a win in Frankfurt. But winning Frankfurt would mean my first WorldTour one-day race win. So I’ll go for that.

That's the kind of stuff I think about sometimes. A top ten in Liège gives more perspective for the future than winning Frankfurt. But to really answer your question: winning Frankfurt."

Last year it almost happened already.
"I think I lost that race because of my own mistake. I believe I had the strongest sprint out of the group that remained, but I got boxed in and couldn’t do my thing."

Has Mattias' victory helped you see up close what it’s like to win a classic?
"Of course, I already knew I really wanted to win one. But it’s also a confirmation that it’s possible. Now I’m already thinking about wanting to be here next year with even better form.

In a way, it’s a confirmation, but it also scares me a little. Because almost a full year has passed and I have nothing. That sounds bizarre, but how many chances are you going to get? You can puncture, crash, have your preparation disrupted, get sick — and just like that, four or five editions are gone. It’s definitely not bad, but it’s not going to make my career either."

Final question, because it’s almost King’s Day in the Netherlands: you’ve had a Dutch girlfriend, a former runner, for a while now. To what extent have you become 'Dutchified'?
"I haven’t become extremely Dutchified. She’s actually become more Flemish. She moved in with me quite quickly and isn’t in the Netherlands much anymore. She’s so Flemish now that sometimes she says something with a Flemish word but a Dutch accent. It’s funny. But I really like the Dutch."

You do have that directness. You’re not afraid to speak your mind.
"And I appreciate that too. That’s part of Dutch culture. If you think or want something, you just say it."

So... winning Eschborn-Frankfurt then?
(laughs) "Maybe."