Thibau Nys given freedom to pursue different path to Van der Poel and Van Aert in the cyclocross calendar
Cyclo-cross
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Follow us on GoogleThibau Nys is set to tackle a fairly full cyclocross calendar again this winter. The Belgian rider from Lidl-Trek will be back on his cyclocross bike starting November 1, riding for Baloise Insurance-Het Poetsbureau Lions. In doing so, he is once again taking a different path than Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, who have been scaling back their cyclocross commitments in recent years.
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Lidl-Trek give Nys freedom to race a full cyclocross calendar
The 23-year-old Nys has a contract with Lidl-Trek through ti the end of 2028. With a new title sponsor, new management, and a German license, the team has been spending more than ever.
It was therefore interesting to see what the road team has in store for Nys’s ambitions. The Belgian is himself an outspoken cyclocross fan, but will he be allowed to pursue that passion to the fullest in the 2026–2027 season?
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The answer is yes. Nys will kick off the season on November 1, 2026, with the Koppenbergcross in Oudenaarde, just like last year.
Back then, he won right away on the infamous cobblestones of the Koppenberg and kicked off a season in which he ultimately racked up six victories. Those included three World Cup wins and the Belgian title in Beringen.
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Thibau Nys
Thibau Nys will continue racing until the 2027 Cyclocross World Championships
Nys’s schedule is quite packed, especially in early November. After the Koppenbergcross, we’ll also see Nys at the European Championships in Zeddam, in the X2O Trophy races in Hamme-Zogge and Beringen.
He’ll also compete in the World Cup cyclocross races in Ostrava and Tábor, both in the Czech Republic. After November and six cyclocross races, Nys will take a three-week break to train with Lidl-Trek.
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Nys has a full calendar of racing over the winter
On December 22, Nys will be back on the track for the X2O Trophy in Hofstade. Over the Christmas period, he’ll also be competing in Gavere, Namur, and Besançon—all World Cup races.
He’ll also be competing in the Superprestige in Diegem. In January, everything revolves around the World Championships, which take place on January 31 in Ostend. There’s really no time left for a training camp if he’s going to race in all the cyclocross events currently on the schedule.
Besançon, Diegem, and the January cross-country race in Hamme are still marked with an asterisk, which means a decision on them will be made at a later date.
Thibau Nys's Cyclocross Schedule for 2026/2027
November
- 1.11: X2O Trophy Oudenaarde
- 8.11: European Cyclocross Championships in Zeddam
- November 15: X2O Trophy Hamme-Zogge
- November 22: X2O Trophy Beringen
- November 27: World Cup in Ostrava
- November 29: World Cup in Tábor
December
- December 22: X2O Trophy Hofstade
- December 26: World Cup in Gavere
- December 27: World Cup in Namur
- December 29: World Cup in Besançon*
- December 30: Superprestige Diegem*
January
- 1.01: X2O Baal Trophy
- 3.01: World Cup Zonhoven
- 10:01 a.m.: Bilzen Cyclocross National Championship
- January 17: World Cup in Benidorm
- January 23: World Cup in Hamme*
- January 24: World Cup in Hoogerheide
- January 31: Cyclocross World Championships in Ostend
* TBD = To be determined
You can see a full list of all cyclocross races and results in our calendar page, or by clicking here.
Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
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Latest Comments
- This feels a bit overdramatic from the media. Until Roglic or his agent confirms it, all these “insiders” are just guessing. Still, seeing him line up with Pidcock would be pretty cool.breakawaybikerd09-10-2026
- I’m still learning the team side of cycling: if a team has 29 contracts already signed, how can it still add Roglič? Do riders leave, or are there limits on how many can be registered?samanthak09-10-2026
- So many conflicting reports — Tudor favourite one week, completely out the next. Surely someone in the camps knows what’s happening? Either way, Roglic deserves a team built around him rather than another uncertain setup.jeremya09-10-2026
- Pinarello-Q5 with Roglič, Pidcock and Ciccone would be a seriously interesting project. Plenty of firepower, although three big personalities sharing one team could get complicated during the Grand Tours.sprocketspiny09-10-2026
- The transfer rumours are becoming a race of their own! Tudor still makes sense, but a clear leader role at Lotto-Intermarché could be exactly what Roglič wants at this stage of his career. Let’s see what comes out after Lombardia.gearguru3309-10-2026
- Big challenge ahead—bonne chance, Grischa!lindae09-10-2026
- Interesting move, though the article doesn’t explain much about what is actually different day to day at Lidl-Trek. Is it mainly the management structure, or are the training and race strategies different too?bikebuffj09-10-2026
- The multiple-leader approach sounds ambitious, but can Gall really be treated as a genuine Tour contender after only one strong season? I’m curious to see how they balance his goals with Ayuso and Skjelmose.gearguru3309-10-2026
- Moving after decades with one organisation must have been an enormous decision. Lidl-Trek’s recruitment has been impressive, and Niermann seems like the right person to turn those signings into a coherent team rather than just a collection of talented riders.julien09-10-2026
- Niermann is a fascinating appointment for Lidl-Trek. His experience building Grand Tour strategies at Visma should be invaluable, especially with Gall, Ayuso, Skjelmose and Gee-West all needing carefully managed leadership opportunities. It could get complicated, but the depth is exciting.robert6509-10-2026
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