Will Thibau Nys make his Giro d'Italia debut in 2026? Ciro Scognamiglio, a journalist at La Gazzetta dello Sport, wrote on X that Lidl-Trek plans to bring the young Belgian to Bulgaria next year, where the Grande Partenza of the Giro d'Italia will take place.
Thibau Nys is currently in full cyclocross mode but is also racking up the necessary training kilometers on the road between races, preparing for the new road season. There is no clarity yet about his road program for 2026, but Nys is expected to once again target the Ardennes Classics.
And Scognamiglio now reports that Nys can prepare for a debut in the Giro d'Italia next year. The 23-year-old puncheur has already considered in the past making his Grand Tour debut in the Italian race, but the Belgian got his first experience with a three-week stage race last season in the Tour de France.
Info @Gazzetta_it - Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull) will put @giroditalia 2026 on his schedule, sources confirmed us (22 years old, in 2025 he finished sixth). And @LidlTrek is planning to send @thibau_nys4 to the Pink Race for the first time @cycling_podcast
— Ciro Scognamiglio (@cirogazzetta) December 2, 2025
Chance at the pink jersey?
If Nys does indeed focus on the Giro d'Italia, he might get an excellent opportunity to claim the Pink Jersey in the opening weekend. The second stage on Bulgarian soil is tailor-made for a puncheur like Nys. The stage to Veliko Tarnovo features a finishing climb of about two kilometers, followed by a descending finale towards the line.
The following three weeks of the Giro also include plenty of hilly and semi-mountain stages, where a rider like Nys can thrive.
