Thibau Nys claimed victory at the Koppenbergcross. The 22-year-old European champion dominated the entire race and crossed the cobbled finish line with a comfortable lead.
The lead-up to the Koppenbergcross was all about Thibau Nys's comeback in cyclocross. The European champion himself had already raised expectations, while other teams feared that Nys would quickly put his rivals to the sword. That indeed happened swiftly on the Koppenberg.
The rain earlier in the day had caused chaos, but it had cleared by the men's race. Still, most of the top riders started cautiously. Wout Janssen, Victor Van de Putte, and Robin Alderweireld were the first riders to enter the field.
Not exactly the names you expect in a top-level cyclocross event, and their lead wouldn't last long. Nys had started more cautiously and even dropped outside the top 10 early on, alongside fellow top favorite Michael Vanthourenhout. But Nys quickly began to move up, while Vanthourenhout fell further behind. The leader of Jurgen Mettepenningen’s team had an off day and never factored into the race. Vanthourenhout eventually abandoned the event.
Nys chasing Mason – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
Meanwhile, Jente Michels had issues with his drivetrain and Toon Aerts crashed dramatically. This opened the door for Nys to close in on Cameron Mason and his teammate Pim Ronhaar, who were setting the pace up front. After about fifteen minutes of racing, Rufus moved to the front, marking the moment for Nys to push harder.
The British rider Mason put up a strong fight and was the only one able to stay within a few seconds of Nys. Especially in the early stages, the European champion’s technical skills were not flawless, which allowed Mason to rejoin him once more. But in the second and third laps, Nys extended his lead to a comfortable gap.
This is Nys’s second victory at the Koppenberg, following his earlier triumph in 2023. His father Sven has won here nine times, bringing the family total to eleven. Mason finished second about twenty seconds behind, but the chase for third place took a long time to resolve.
That honor eventually went to Ronhaar, just under two minutes back. Tomorrow in Lokeren, East Flanders, the second round of the X2O Badkamers Trophy awaits, the general classification which Nys now leads with authority.
X²O Badkamers Trofee - Koppenbergcross| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58:39 | |
| 2 | + 21 | |
| 3 | + 01:44 | |
| 4 | + 01:54 | |
| 5 | + 02:03 | |
| 6 | + 02:07 | |
| 7 | + 02:21 | |
| 8 | + 02:38 | |
| 9 | + 02:44 | |
| 10 | + 02:48 |
