'A proper way to start' - Thibau Nys wins 2025 Koppenbergcross ahead of European title defence

Thibau Nys (Baloise Glowi Lions) kicked off his 2025/2026 cyclocross season in style, winning the opening round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee series at the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, Belgium. 

“It’s a proper way to start the season, this was one of the big goals already of the cyclocross season, and to start off with a win is incredible,” said Nys in his post-race interview.

The European Champion quickly worked his way through the field in boggy conditions, and once he reached the front, he didn’t look back. If it wasn’t for British champion Cameron Mason (Seven Racing), who had a stormer of a ride, Nys would have been entirely in a league of his own. 

The European Champion flew up the Koppenberg at the end of each lap, extending his advantage to Mason each time, and he floated across the course on the running sections also. It was on the downhill sections where the British champion continued to keep Nys in check. 

Despite Mason’s best efforts, Nys was able to keep the British champion at bay and celebrate victory in his first race of the season. 

Mason finished 0:21 behind Nys to take 2nd place, his highest placing in a Belgian race since finishing 2nd at Otegem in the 2023/2024 season, illustrating his current great shape. Meanwhile, Nys’s teammate Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Glowi Lions) battled to his fourth consecutive podium this season in 3rd at 1:44.

This victory marks Nys’s second success at the Koppenbergcross as a professional after he won in 2023, and the fourth consecutive year that his team took the honours, with Lars van der Haar claiming victory in 2022 and 2024. In all, it was a perfect day for the Baloise Glowi Lions, with Lucinda Brand winning the elite women’s race

“My second win on the Koppenberg in really nice conditions, I did what I had to do,” said a satisfied Nys, who still has a long way to go to match his father, Sven’s staggering nine victories at the Koppenbergcross.

The 22-year-old is set to race on Sunday in the second of the X2O series at the Rapencross in Lokeren, but his attention will quickly turn towards the UEC European Cyclocross Championships in Middelkerke, Belgium, with the Elite Men’s race on Sunday, 9 November.

As defending champion, and after his performance at the Koppenbergcross, Nys will naturally have pressure on his shoulders to maintain his European jersey. 

The course at Middelkerke, situated by the coast, is renowned for its sandy features, and Nys was asked if he plans to focus on his sand training this week ahead of the race.

“I think I have to, because my sand skills are not that great,” Nys laughed. “So even with this shape, it’s going to be a really difficult task to win the European Championships, but the shape is there, and that’s all I can do. The rest is just see how it goes, but I think it will be even more difficult than winning today.”