Thibau Nys overcomes crashes to claim Koppenberg hat-trick in cyclocross season opener
The Belgian champion started his season with a bang after overcoming multiple crashes.
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Thibau Nys claimed victory at the Koppenbergcross for the third time as an elite in the opening round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee series.
In his first race of the season, the Belgian champion had to overcome a series of crashes to catch Michael Vanthourenhout on the penultimate lap, setting up for a tense showdown between the Belgian duo.
Ultimately, the race came down to the final rise up the iconic Koppenberg to the finish. Vanthourenhout led onto the steep cobbles and launched his acceleration first.
However, Nys was able to respond and quickly pull clear to complete his hat-trick victory, seven seconds ahead of Vanthourenhout.
Gerben Kuypers joined his teammate Vanthourenhout on the podium, 42 seconds behind Nys. Pim Ronhaar and British champion Cameron Mason rounded out the top five.
It marks Nys’ third victory as an elite in Oudenaarde, adding to his victories in 2023 and 2025. His father Sven holds the record for most victories with nine.
Meanwhile, Lucinda Brand won the women’s race, marking a perfect day for the Baloise Verzekeringen - Het Poetsbureau Lions.
How it unfolded
Victor Van de Putte led over the top of the Koppenberg for the first time, with both Vanthourenhout and Nys well placed in the top three.
Van de Putte led through the end of the first lap at the head of a four-man group including Nys, Vanthourenhout and Joris Nieuwenhuis, with the chasers around 10 seconds behind.
On the second lap, the chasers returned, and Van de Putte suffered a small crash that saw him slip back in the leading pack.
Through the end of the second lap, the race was still wide open with 13 riders within 10 seconds of leader Thomas Mein.
Van de Putte suffered another crash on lap 3, and this time Nys also went down. The leading group split as a result, with Vanthourenhout pulling clear ahead of his teammate Kuypers.
By the end of lap three, Vanthourenhout led Kuypers by seven seconds with Pim Ronhaar in third at 11 seconds. Nys was sandwiched between British riders Mein and Mason in fifth at 25 seconds.
Ronhaar suffered a heavy crash on the fourth lap, and the Dutchman was quickly passed by his teammate Nys, who was hunting down the Pauwels Sauzen duo ahead.
By the end of the lap, Nys found himself 18 seconds behind Vanthourenhout with half the race completed.
Nys continued to close the gap on lap 5, passing Kuypers and finding himself just nine seconds behind Vanthourenhout.
Early on lap 6, Nys suffered another crash, costing him a few more seconds. However, the Belgian champion regained his momentum in rapid fashion and found himself 12 seconds behind at the end of the lap.
Nys caught Vanthourenhout up the penultimate ascent of the climb to set up a final lap showdown.
