Nys hopeful that World Championships won’t be a one-lap show: "Van Aert’s power is close to Van der Poel’s level"

On Sunday evening, an unexpected announcement shook the cyclo-cross world: Wout van Aert will compete in the World Championships in Liévin this Sunday after all. Fans are eager for a showdown between the Belgian and his long-time rival Mathieu van der Poel, who had initially seemed to have a clear path to his seventh world title. But is a real battle actually on the cards? Sven Nys shared his thoughts with Het Nieuwsblad.

Nys, a two-time cyclo-cross world champion himself, welcomed the news of Van Aert’s last-minute participation. “The cyclo-cross fan in me can only be happy about this. As impressive as Mathieu’s performances have been, people don’t watch cyclo-cross to know the winner after just one lap. Ideally, I wouldn’t want to know the outcome until half a lap before the finish. Sport thrives on battles.”

So, how likely is it that we’ll get an exciting duel? Van der Poel has been untouchable this season, even in the races where Van Aert competed. But Nys believes the gap may not be as big in Liévin. "The power Wout showed on Saturday in Maasmechelen is very close to Mathieu’s level on a course like Liévin," says Nys. "And that’s exactly what we want. Now, we have two races happening: Wout vs. Mathieu for the world title, and the rest fighting for third place on the podium."

Read more below!

Thibau Nys jokes around with Mathieu van der Poel

Nys Junior joining Van der Poel and Van Aert on the podium?

Twenty years after Sven Nys won his first cyclo-cross world title in Germany, his son Thibau Nys now lines up with podium ambitions. However, his preparation has been far from ideal—he skipped Maasmechelen and abandoned in Hoogerheide. "There are certainly better ways to build up toward a World Championship," his father Sven admitted.

"We had hoped he could carry over his form from Benidorm, but when you have to hit the brakes, it always has consequences. The illness didn’t fully take hold, but he was on the edge. At this level, you can hardly afford that, and in a tough race like Hoogerheide, it becomes even more obvious. But on Monday, he fully refocused on his training and believes he can have a strong Worlds. I don’t think last weekend will affect his medal chances."

Read more below!

Wout van Aert

Van Aert’s chances depend on Van der Poel

According to the two-time world champion, Van der Poel holds the key to whether the Belgians have a shot at victory. "It’s possible to beat him, but that largely depends on Mathieu and the conditions. On a course where it’s not just about raw power, there are chances to stay closer for longer. The longer you can keep him in sight, the bigger the motivation. But I’ll say this with caution, lol—Mathieu is on another level."

On Sunday, Van der Poel has the opportunity to win his seventh world title, equaling the record of Erik De Vlaeminck. Nys believes that’s an extra motivator for the Dutchman. "You definitely shouldn’t underestimate how important that is to him. I actually think this is all that matters to Mathieu. His ultimate goal is to win eight world titles, so he can set a record that will be nearly impossible to match."

Read also

Nys (who promises to compete in Worlds) could fulfill bold 2004 prediction, Van der Poel flips him "middle finger"

"Far from his peak," yet a World Championship: How Van Aert laid the foundation for this decision in Spain

Van der Poel feels his body changing after turning 30: "I couldn't handle these workouts at 23"

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get every week the latest news about CYCLING in your inbox!

Subscribe