🚵🇧🇪 | Ai, daar gaat Wout van Aert. Hij loopt met deze valpartij het podium mis! Thibau Nys en Laurens Sweeck sprinten zo achter Mathieu van der Poel voor de tweede plaats. #ExactCross #Azencross 📺 Stream cross op HBO Max
Nys enjoyed the vibe surrounding Van Aert and Van der Poel: "Those who say cyclo-cross is dead..."
Cyclo-crossFriday, 27 December 2024 at 20:16
Things can change, as Thibau Nys now knows. The Belgian from Baloise Trek Lions was without a top ten for several weeks but has now made the podium in Zonhoven, Gavere, and Loenhout. This time, in races where Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are present again, Nys is really among the elite. "I want to try to follow Van der Poel in one of the next races."
Nys junior experienced some setbacks at the start with a flat tire, which immediately explained why he had to start a mini-chase race. "I didn't lose much time with it, but I did lose the connection to the head of the race. After that, I actually had to chase all the time; I was never really in the lead," the Baloise Trek Lions rider said.
Still, Nys managed to put up a good fight and got back in sight of the other racers - except for Van der Poel. "Fortunately, I had a good companion with Wout van Aert. It was very cool to ride around with him like that," said the candid Nys with a smile.
"Those people who say the cyclo-cross is dead, I don't know where they've been lately. It's great week after week, especially during the Christmas period. Then it's always busier than in November and October, too. And they get value for money," is how Sven's son expresses his satisfaction with the current state of cyclo-cross.
Read more below the video!
Nys hopes to follow Van der Poel for once and aims for success in Diegem
In the end, Nys was able first to beat Van Aert - who crashed - for second place before catching Sweeck in the sprint for the runner-up spot. "I knew I had to try there. Then came a few difficult sections where I couldn't make a difference. The pace was interrupted there very often," Nys looked back on his move in the final.
"Second place was the highest achievable for me today anyway. I feel that physically, I'm at my best level, like at the European Championships and in Overijse. It just depends from race to race where I am best. I'm looking forward to Diegem. I also want to follow Van der Poel in one of the next races," said Nys, who will meet VDP in Baal on New Year's Day. Nys will not be present in Besançon, while Van der Poel will not ride in Diegem.
Finally, how does Nys view his comeback, about which he spoke openly and honestly after Zonhoven? "It can turn very quickly, both positively and negatively. Those less fortunate weeks were also a coincidence, but that was probably a misleading negative image, like when you have two flat tires or crash; now, everything is returning to normal, combined with good form."
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024