Thibau Nys talks candidly about a possible Tour de France debut and his crushing Rosier training

Thibau Nys is aiming to debut in a Grand Tour next year, with the Tour de France at the top of his list. He shared his ambitions on The Odd Tandem podcast with former pros Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt.

“Will I be racing a grand tour next year? Yeah, there’s about a ninety percent chance,” he said, making it clear a debut next season is almost certain. “I don’t really mind which one, but each comes with its own challenges,” Nys explained. “The Giro isn’t far from the end of the cyclocross season, the Tour isn’t a given with our team, and the Vuelta is quite close to the start of the next cross season. If I had to pick, I’d say the Tour, because the timing just works best. But I’m not one to say I deserve a specific spot. That’s up to the team,” Nys added modestly.

Nys’s road racing program is steadily growing, both in scope and importance. The Ardennes classics are a big goal for him next season, with La Flèche Wallonne standing out. “Looking ahead to next year, one race really jumps out to me, and that’s La Flèche Wallonne. I’ll be working to be in top form for that, and I’m likely to race the Amstel Gold as well. The finish at La Flèche Wallonne on the Mur de Huy should suit me well. I rode it once with the cyclocross team, back when I wasn’t even thinking about a road career, and right away, I thought: ‘If I ever want to win a race, it’s La Flèche Wallonne.’”

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Nys: "I think it's cool when those superstars show up at the start"

He might very well have to compete against superstar Tadej Pogacar in La Flèche Wallonne. The Slovenian was incredibly strong this year, but Nys isn’t too worried. “Pogacar is rewriting the rules of racing. Other teams are at a loss because they don’t know how to handle this situation. Personally, I’m not too focused on it. All I can do is make sure I’m at my absolute best and take my chances. And a breakaway making it to the finish at La Flèche Wallonne is rare. But with the form he’s in now, Pogacar could attack on the penultimate climb on the Mur, and that would change the race completely for me.”

Although it’s a big challenge, Nys is eager to take it on, dreaming of being as good in his field as Pogacar or Mathieu van der Poel. “It’s a bit of a mixed feeling. Of course, it’s intimidating to go up against Van der Poel in Paris-Roubaix or Jonas Vingegaard on a long climb. But I have to make sure I get better at what makes me strong. Then, maybe someday, I’ll be the rider others are afraid of. I think it’s great when those superstars are around; it motivates me too. I don’t see it as a negative thing—far from it.”

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Nys: "I can definitely enjoy a good group ride, but not when I’m training"

In the podcast, Nys gave an interesting look into his mindset and how he prepares for big goals, like the Tour of Poland this year. In the WorldTour race, Nys managed to win no less than three stages. “I’m someone who really needs to build confidence in training, to feel ready; to know I can complete the training sessions that will bring me victory,” said Nys.

“I always think: I don’t win in the race, I win in training. Racing is the easy part,” Nys shared his unique perspective. “Racing is just the fun part; all the hard work is already done. And in that one week before Poland, I had a training session where I felt: this is it, this is what I need to win.”

The specific training session that gave Nys the confidence boost for the Tour of Poland has become a routine for him, and it’s also incredibly demanding. “It’s a training I do often: eight times ten minutes on the Rosier climb (4.5 km at 5.7%) in the Ardennes. It’s part of a five-hour training session. Sometimes I do a few at nearly the same pace, but usually, I mix it up, and the last one is always all-out.” Nys also prefers to train alone. “If I’m sitting in someone’s draft, I’m not training. I can definitely enjoy a good group ride, but not when I’m training. I want to deliver high quality in every session.”