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Nys bides his time to strike for European cyclocross glory: 'I felt there would be a big explosion'
The Belgian times decisive final-lap attack to beat his compatriot Joran Wyseure and claim his second elite European title
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Nico Vereecken / Cor Vos
Thibau Nys bided his time to break the resistance of the in-form Joran Wyseure and claim his second elite men’s European cyclocross title in Zeddam, explaining he felt there would be a "big explosion" on the final lap.
The Belgian found himself locked in a two-man fight for the European title alongside his compatriot Wyseure after the duo had distanced Kevin Kuhn.
“It was a tough one. I think it was a hard but really nice battle with Joran [Wyseure]. He was super strong, and it was really difficult to get rid of each other,” Nys said post-race. “Halfway through the race, I felt that there would be a big explosion on the last lap.”
Nys signalled his ambitions when he ignited the race with an acceleration on lap four, with his running ability standing out on the course’s 99-step staircase. Kuhn and Wyseure eventually caught him, but Nys tried again on lap six, only for Wyseure to fight back.
The pair couldn’t rest on their laurels at the front over the remaining three laps, with Cameron Mason quickly working his way through the field after a difficult start.
The British champion's resurgence brought a chasing group to within 10 seconds with one lap remaining, leaving little opportunity for the leaders to hesitate.
Nys took control during the first half of the final lap, increasing the pressure until he finally distanced Wyseure.
Despite nearly crashing, he maintained his advantage to take the title, with Wyseure finishing second and Niels Vandeputte completing an all-Belgian podium in third.
Nys admitted that he found the dynamics of the course challenging when it came to trying to create separation.
“It’s quite difficult to create a gap. Especially when you have to pull at the front on the road section towards the finish line, it takes a bit of a gamble there.”
The victory marks Nys’ second European title as an elite, following his victory in Pontevedra in 2024, though it hasn’t satisfied his hunger for more success this season.
“There’s a lot more to come. For me, every race is just as important as the next one. Next week is just as important as today’s European championships. I’ll try to let the jersey shine,” he said.
