In three or four years, Nys wants to compete for the real prizes on the road: "In the mix for the Monuments"

"I'm making really big steps for the moment," Nys told Velo. "I feel like I still need to make those steps in cyclo-cross as well. But I am 100 percent confident that it will come in the future. Now, it's just trying to get wins as well in the bigger races next road season to step up that game."

In 2024, the young Belgian won a stage in the Tour of Switzerland and dominated the Tour of Poland by winning three stages. He also won another stage in the Tour de Romandie, a stage in the Tour of Norway, and the GC, plus two stages on the Tour of Hungary. "It was perfect," Nys said of his road season. "I didn't dare to dream that it was going to be this good. There were a lot of highlights, but my stage win in the Tour de Suisse was really important to me. And also I won three stages in Tour of Poland, which was a week I will never forget. Winning one, then two, then three made it a crazy feeling."

But the Lidl-Trek rider also knows it doesn't come overnight. "In the end after riding a season like this, I also realized that it cannot be every year the same. So I enjoy every moment and try to copy that next year as well."

Nevertheless, Nys will continue to combine cyclo-cross and road cycling. Something that is perfectly possible, as we see from recent examples such as Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. It may even have many advantages, the Belgian believes. "I think the explosivity of cyclo-cross helps the road racing. I think the road also helps my cyclo-cross in terms of building my engine. But I think the way I'm winning races on the road really comes from the explosive part in cyclo-cross."

Combining both disciplines does come with a good balance and the audacity to make choices. Sometime during the year you can't be in shape. "It's difficult. But I also like it. I don't want it to be any other way because it's what I love to do. Everything I do now affects the summer and the other way around as well. So it's really important to find the balance between resting and training and racing. It's not easy, but I think we are managing quite well."

There are many goals on Nys' schedule in the coming months. Starting with February 2, the cyclo-cross World Championships and then moving on to the road, where, as mentioned, he will compete in the very biggest races for the first time. "And then coming to the road season, I will ride my first grand tour next year. I'm not sure which one yet, but I'll maybe try to get a stage win there. And also to step up in the other big races." He wants to compete for the real prizes in three or four years. "And also being in the mix for classics or monuments on the road. I'll maybe target Grand Tours. But just for stages, not for GC," Nys concludes.