Belgian Thibau Nys pictured in action during the men elite race at the World Cup cyclocross cycling event in Tabor, Czech Republic, stage 1 (out of 12) of the UCI World Cup cyclocross competition, Sunday 23 November 2025. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga / AFP via Getty Images)
Thibau Nys celebrated a memorable victory at the opening World Cup event in Tábor, where he paid tribute to his father, Sven Nys, by wearing a specially designed Trek helmet. This occasion marked nearly ten years since Sven Nys clinched his final World Cup victory in Koksijde. The emotional connection between the two champions was palpable as Thibau, age 23, not only donned the iconic Belgian national colours but also sported a helmet and glasses reminiscent of his father’s signature look.
During the race, Thibau displayed remarkable skill and resilience. He broke away from the pack on the second lap, maintaining his lead despite challenging icy conditions. His solo performance culminated in a triumphant finish, where he embraced his father in celebration. “I had a very good day,” Thibau remarked. “With that beautiful helmet too. It was 10 years ago that Dad won his last World Cup. So it all went very fast. To ride the whole cross in this jersey today, with such a helmet. That’s great. I enjoyed it immensely.”
Sven Nys, a two-time World Cyclo-Cross Champion, expressed both surprise and pride when discussing his son’s matching kit with Belgian broadcaster Sporza. “This week he suddenly came home with a photo of me wearing a bright orange pair of glasses and exactly the same helmet,” he said. “He secretly had it made, found a similar pair of glasses, and combined that with the Belgian tricolor. It’s exactly like seeing myself ride. Although, unfortunately, it was already 15 years ago. I find it quite special.”
Looking ahead, Thibau will need to don the World Cup leader’s jersey at the next round in Flamanville, scheduled for next weekend. Unlike his father, whose achievements were primarily in cyclocross and mountain biking, Thibau has set his sights on road racing as well, competing with Lidl-Trek. Last season, he achieved significant milestones, winning the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain and finishing fifth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, after a busy cyclocross calendar. He also completed his first Tour de France during the summer.
Thibau’s coach, Paul Van Den Bosch, shared insights on his athlete’s ambitious plans for the upcoming season. “Thibau, just like last season, has ambitions for the spring,” Van Den Bosch stated. “They are in the back of his mind during every training session he does this winter.” This dedication is evident, as Thibau reportedly trained for five hours on his road bike the day following a strong performance at the European Cyclo-Cross Championships.
After the Flamanville World Cup round, Thibau is set to participate in a training camp focused on both road racing and cyclocross preparation. Following a busy Christmas period filled with cyclocross races, he will join Lidl-Trek for their January team training camp. This camp will also serve as preparation for the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships in Hulst, scheduled for February 1, 2024. “We must not lose sight of explosiveness during that camp either,” Van Den Bosch noted. “Hulst is a course that requires a lot of explosiveness. So we already know that during that camp with Lidl-Trek, we will also need to train a lot on explosiveness.”
As the season unfolds, the path for Thibau Nys appears promising. With a well-structured training plan and clear goals for the upcoming races, fans and critics alike will be eager to see how he continues to carve out his own legacy while honoring the remarkable achievements of his father.
