Non-stop mix of cyclo-cross and road racing caught up with Thibau Nys: “I felt like a shadow of myself”

Nys started his season strongly in early April with a victory in the GP Miguel Indurain. Later that month, he made an impressive debut in the hilly classics, finishing 12th in the Amstel Gold Race, 8th in La Flèche Wallonne, and 5th in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Looking back, despite the bitter aftertaste of the weaker final months, he remains very satisfied with that period.

“The last months have been tough, really tough,” Nys opened. “I took a flying start this season, opening with a win in GP Miguel Indurain and a promising first taste of the Ardennes Classics. It felt satisfying. Raising up my level and performing at my best. It was something that was normal to me. I work my ass off so will I perform on a high level."

After that, however, things took a turn. Constantly switching between cyclo-cross and the road began to wear the young rider down. “Season after season I could raise that bar, until now. The non-stop switching form road to cx to road to cx to road… has got me haha. It’s been a really long time since I had a rest for more than 7 days, just because I love both worlds so much..”

“I started to feel like a shadow of myself,” Nys said of a difficult period. “Couldn’t hurt myself on training and recovery slowed down.” As a result, Nys sadly had to scratch the Canadian races GP Québec and GP Montréal. That also marked the end of his road season.

“Both races in Canada where one of my biggest goals of the year,” said Nys. “I tried to keep pushing my body, but I also have to think about what comes next. I’ve tried to keep on pushing my body, but I need to think about all what comes next as well. To not be there right now and support the team, hurts. It was time to pull that handbrake.”

After the Bretagne Classic on August 31, Nys put the bike aside for a while. “I did not touch my bike in the last two weeks. It was all about resetting mind and body. Eating nice things, being around my family and friends but also just doing nothing.”

Now, Nys has taken his bike out again. “I’m ready to slowly start building back up and find the best version of myself.” Nys is expected to make his return on November 1 at the Koppenbergcross.