The unknown side of Thibau Nys: "Sweet little man," "rebellious," but also complimenting mom every day

"A sweet little man" is what mother Isabelle Nys calls her son Thibau in an in-depth interview with Het Nieuwsblad, a glimpse of the top cyclo-cross rider from an entirely different angle, in other words. "What you see is what you get," she concludes.

Everyone knows that Thibau is the son of Sven Nys. But mother Isabelle is, of course, also an incredibly important factor in the life of the top talent. "Should I notice that Thibau is showing a different face, I will be the first to confront him about it. Be authentic, talk to people, and keep your feet on the ground. That's the message I've been giving him all his life. And one which he picked up very well. I've always wanted to clarify to Thibau that there is still a world beyond cyclo-cross."

Nys Junior also fully embraces that life, a new house with his Dutch girlfriend Anna, the focus on fashion, and, recently, even a blonde haircut. "He doesn't ask for advice. But he always shows pictures and asks me what I think," says mom Nys. "But you know Thibau: he will always do what he wants. He is more engaged than the average man. And he has a distinct taste. He gets that rebellious attitude from me. That blond haircut, we did that together at my hair salon. It was his idea; I was just the one executing."

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"We barely talk about the cyclo-cross," says mom Nys

"Our relationship is completely separate from the cyclo-cross," Isabelle says. "Quality time, that's what he can find at home. Then I cook nice fresh food for him, something he can enjoy immensely. Or then I go with him to Spain, like the week before Overijse. For me, those are the sweetest moments together with my son. Then, we have beautiful, intense conversations. We can philosophize well between the two of us. About life, about my business. I feel like talking to a like-minded soul rather than my child. About the cyclo-cross, we barely talk. I've been away from that world for ten years and don't know anything about it anymore. If I've known anything about it at all."

An appreciative child, his mom stresses. "Every day that he's here, he gives a compliment. He thanked me for a nice evening. "You shouldn't thank me," I say then. "And yet I want to tell you," he insists. Mother's days and birthdays are a lot less; he sometimes forgets. This year, he was in Italy on my birthday and bought me an expensive bottle of red wine. He won his first victory ever on Mother's Day. The flowers were for me. "Well, then, I don't have to buy you any because I knew I would win anyway," he added with a chuckle. "Oh well, I know what I have for my son, and my son knows what he has for me. And that means a lot."

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