Sven Nys explains the perfect synergy between son Thibau and Dutch riders Ronhaar, Nieuwenhuis and Van der Haar

Anyone who encounters Sven Nys at the cyclo-cross races this winter sees nothing but a beaming man. The eternally positive team manager of Baloise Trek Lions is clearly proud of the ladies and gentlemen of his team, that much is clear. IDLProCycling.com spoke with Nys in Benidorm about the seemingly perfect match of characters within his team, highlighted by Lucinda Brand's willpower, emblematic of the team's fighting spirit this winter.

The men of Baloise Trek Lions take turns on the podium. Sometimes it's Pim Ronhaar, other times Joris Nieuwenhuis or Lars van der Haar. At the fast course in Benidorm, the Dutch riders didn't find their perfect track, but that's when son Thibau stepped up for Nys' team, securing a third place despite a somersault at a critical moment.

For the women, team leader Brand, who had to step up solo after Shirin van Anrooij's disappointing winter, also found the course not to her liking. Nevertheless, just two weeks after breaking her nose, she still finished fourth, wearing her Dutch national champion jersey.

“Her condition was top-notch. The way she rode around there: I think she would have also won the World Cup. Not just physically, but her cyclo-cross technique was also top-notch. Eventually, she won the National Championships with such a margin, which is impressive. She shows so much character, that’s her love for cycling.”

“There are two types of riders in my view, especially at that age. There are those who think: okay, I’ll finish my contract and then it's over, or there are riders who want to maximize their potential until the end. They want to make it really tough for the younger riders and keep looking for details.”

“That's the attitude. That’s how I always tried to be during my career, with that mentality. Seeing how she approaches it now is really great. You can be sure that she’s trying to get the most out of it, but then you can also be at peace with a second or fourth place. Now that she’s the Dutch champion, I think she can have ambitions again for the World Championships.”

“Lucinda had a lot of bad luck at the start of the season with a heavy fall in her last road race, but she’s reaping the benefits now. She had time to reset, to recover. She’s been under anesthesia a few times, but that's all quite challenging. When she broke her nose, I thought it might be the final straw, but she’s fought her way back again.”

“That reset is both physical and mental. She was ready for the cyclo-cross season, but also quickly switched gears. She took enough rest, and we really said to each other that we wouldn’t race until everything was right. That went differently a year ago; we were too hasty and she was never really at her best. Now, we've done it properly, and it’s working out really well.”

“Benidorm was tough for her, but I think Hoogerheide and the World Championships are really going to be the two important races for her. I believe she should now focus entirely on the World Championships, especially considering the World Cups she's already won. I hope it works out, but Fem van Empel is very strong. Of course, we'll also have to wait and see what the weather's like, as it's often slippery there due to ice and snow.”

“That's what I find really interesting: giving riders, in whom I see potential, a good feeling, elevating them to a higher level conditionally, and so on. We do this with a whole team that has actually become a group of friends. They're happy for each other's victories, including titles, while each of them wants to win themselves. That's the work of a team trying to create a pleasant atmosphere. When those guys feel good and are appreciated, they just perform better. That's what we try to do, and it's working well, but it only takes one difficult character to turn it negative. Right now, there isn't one among them.”

“It's not just about a rider's physical readiness. For us, how riders are character-wise and what their attitude is are also very important.”

“Sometimes there's no clear explanation for it. Pim is younger, but Joris comes from a background where he saw the other side of the sport and lost his joy. If you can then give him the chance to rediscover that joy, he'll share it with the younger guys. Joris and Lars are also at an age where they want to share that experience, even with the women. After a recon, Lars immediately goes to the women with tips, which also gives us a really good feeling. You know it comes from within.”

“It's totally different. The Dutch are more direct and express their opinions more quickly, with respect for each other. They don't walk around frustrated for weeks and are more direct in their communication, which I've always loved. It's also no coincidence that there are many Dutch riders in our team.”

“Great. He really enjoys it and fits perfectly into the group. He's also a boy who adapts and doesn't place himself above others as ‘the son of’, which is very important to me. He's just one of the others, and that helps to mesh with the others.”