Thibau Nys elevated the Koppenbergcross to a new level this weekend, and the 22-year-old European champion also shattered the charisma standards in cyclocross land. Various stakeholders say Nys is the man the sport needs to draw even more attention to cyclocross.
Already on Friday evening, the day before his comeback on the Koppenberg, it became clear why. Baloise Glowi Lions, Nys’s team, posted a video online showing the ins and outs of the European champion’s final preparations. "I don’t train to win, but to dominate," Nys says in it. Later he would say it was a joke, but it characterizes the rider’s carefree nature. Although unintentionally, he attracted national attention even before he had ridden a meter in the race.
Former world champion Niels Albert also saw that video, he says in his column for HLN. Albert sees a big personality difference between Nys and the other current crossers. "They were basically all good family men, you know. With all due respect, but in recent years it was often: ‘Yeah, I’m not really sure…’ They were all very well-behaved. Thibau always speaks his mind, he dares to express his ambitions, and wants to prove he belongs."
Nys as the New Messiah?
It’s a theory often heard on the cyclocross fields in recent weeks. After the retirements of Albert and Nys senior, and later Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, there was no longer a messiah of cyclocross. According to Albert, who experienced the sport’s golden era alongside father Nys and was not afraid to make bold statements himself, Nys is the man the sport needs—at least as long as Van der Poel, Van Aert, Tom Pidcock, and even Tibor Del Grosso are not present.
At the Koppenberg, Nys was immediately dominant – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
"I’m convinced that Thibau can bring cyclocross back to life and revive its golden era, especially with the support of his father’s fanbase. Thibau can really be a turning point. We missed that flair." It’s Nys’s aura, including some visible tattoos—"he has a bit of a 'bad boy' look"—that contributes to this, Albert says.
Besides that, Nys also races with personality. In races, he’s not afraid to take the initiative and showcase his technical skills, and even to show his emotions when things aren’t going well. Like last Sunday in Lokeren. Nys’s gestures then reminded some of Remco Evenepoel’s. "Wherever Thibau races, you get an extra dimension," confirms national coach Angelo De Clercq, who attends almost all cyclocross races weekly, backing Albert’s view. "You hear that loud shouting again, like back in the days of Albert, Nys, and Wellens. You could just tell who was where. With Thibau, you get that feeling back for the first time."
According to De Clercq, Nys also brings out more spectators. "People see a true idol in him, and that draws them to cyclocross. When you open the newspaper, ninety percent of the time it’s about him. He has also achieved a lot on the road, and that resonates. I hope everyone cherishes that. Including the Belgian media. We hardly ever have someone who dares to express his thoughts and be true to himself."
Rare trait
But why has that personality trait become so rare? Back when De Clercq’s father, Mario, raced, there was a big headline every week or a scandal between two riders that would be widely reported. "I think Eli Iserbyt has proven that in recent years. He was also more upfront initially, but he had to tone it down. If he had spoken his mind five years ago, he was heavily criticized. Especially on social media, where he was often torn apart."
There was sometimes tough talk between Niels Albert and Sven Nys too – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
At times, this resembled bullying. "After a while you become so cautious about saying anything wrong that you have no choice but to hold yourself back," says De Clercq. "That takes some charm away from the sport. You don’t only see that in cyclocross, but in all sports. Everyone is increasingly coached to say the right things."
Whether this is a good or bad development is up for debate. You can’t really blame the other crossers either. After all, sport is not about who is the funniest or most popular, but about who wins. On the other hand, all stakeholders will agree that it is important to have enough real stars in cyclocross to keep the sport alive and maintain high viewing and attendance figures.
In the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast by Dutch ex-rider Laurens ten Dam, Sporza commentators Ruben Van Gucht and Paul Herygers delve deeper into this. "They’re all programmed to ride hard," says Herygers. "Most guys head to cyclocross with only one thought: I hope my legs feel good. They don’t think beyond that—they only want to ride as hard as possible. That little bit of entertainment disappears."
To which his fellow commentator Van Gucht intelligently reasons: "You either have it or you don’t. You simply can’t teach that." No disrespect to the riders who play it safe, of course. But full credit to young Nys, who in other words possesses a kind of rare X-factor.
Shift
According to Ten Dam himself, it’s no surprise that riders like Nys are a dying breed. "Back in the day, it was the cowboys, the bad boys who took risks that reached the top. Now it’s more the 'good' boys, the ones who weigh their food every day and do their training every day. Those are very different personalities. That’s the main shift."
Although Herygers doesn’t disagree, the eccentric 1994 world champion still urges the other crossers to sell themselves. "I’m not saying they should say nonsense into the microphone, but they should become personalities. Right now, we’re not seeing names destined to make history." And that, according to the Kempen native, Albert, and De Clercq, is a shame.
No disrespect to the other crossers, because winning is what it’s all about – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
