Thibau Nys successfully defended his Belgian elite men’s cyclocross national title on Sunday in Beringen, but not without drama. The defending champion seized control from the opening lap on the frozen, rutted course and steadily dismantled the field, building his advantage on the brutal mine terril climbs that have become his trademark.
Michael Vanthourenhout was the last rider able to follow before losing contact on the third lap, allowing Nys to ride alone at the front with a growing gap.
Behind him, Emiel Verstrynge was already fighting back from an early crash, gradually reasserting himself as the race’s main threat. Still, as Nys stretched his lead toward 20 seconds, a second straight national title appeared firmly within his grasp.
Then the race turned.
Thibau Nys Holds His Nerve Amid Drama
Midway through the contest, Nys crashed heavily on a fast descent, momentarily losing control and precious seconds as he remounted. Though he quickly resumed his rhythm, the incident cracked the door open. Verstrynge, riding solo in second, sensed the shift and began to carve into the deficit with methodical precision.
Lap by lap, the gap shrank. On the final circuit, Verstrynge finally made contact, transforming what had looked like a controlled solo ride into a nerve-wracking duel for Belgium’s most coveted jersey.
As conditions worsened and mistakes became increasingly costly, Thibau Nys abandoned any thought of attacking through the technical sections. Instead, he rode conservatively, protecting himself from another crash and trusting his legs for one decisive effort.
“It was about riding to the finish as safely as possible,” Nys explained afterward. “The course was so treacherous that I didn’t want to take any risks. I lost seconds in every corner, but I knew I still had one last burst.”
Even that plan was briefly tested when Thibau Nys stalled on a steep running section in the closing lap, a moment he later admitted shook him. “I panicked for a moment and the cold hit my breathing,” he said. “I really ran into myself there.”
But when the race hit the finishing straight, the champion found exactly what he had saved. Nys launched his sprint at precisely the right moment, pulling clear to deny Verstrynge by just a few bike lengths and secure his second consecutive elite national title.
Vanthourenhout crossed the line alone for bronze, 52 seconds back, with Niels Vandeputte and Joran Wyseure rounding out the top five.
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Verstrynge was magnanimous in defeat. “The strongest rider won,” he said. “It hurts because I came so close, but it was a fantastic championship.”
For Nys, the victory carried weight beyond the result itself. “I’m really attached to this jersey and hope to wear it for a long time,” he said.
After a race that swung from total control to near chaos and back again, Nys proved not only the strongest rider on the day, but the calmest when it mattered most- a timely reminder as the World Cup season continues toward the World Championships in Hulst later this month.
