Thibau Nys heads towards the 2026–27 cyclocross season with unfinished business. The Belgian has already proved that he belongs among the very best in the discipline, but his 2026 road campaign has been disrupted by injury and illness, making the coming winter particularly important.
Nys’ last cyclocross season was arguably his strongest yet. He won three UCI World Cup rounds, taking victories at Tábor, Flamanville and Dendermonde, and finished second overall in the World Cup standings. He also won the Belgian national title, took silver at the European Championships and finished third at the World Championships in Hulst.
There were also wins at the Koppenbergcross and Hamme, reinforcing the feeling that Nys is no longer simply a rider capable of occasional spectacular performances. At 23, he is becoming one of the most consistent elite cyclocross riders in the world.
His road season, however, has been far less straightforward.
Nys was originally expected to target the Ardennes Classics and the Giro d’Italia, but recurring pain in his left knee forced him to undergo surgery in March for prepatellar friction syndrome. Lidl-Trek confirmed that he required a partial prepatellar fasciectomy and several weeks away from training.
As a result, he did not begin his road season until June. His comeback produced fourth place at GP Gippingen and fifth in the Belgian road championships, but the long interruption inevitably affected his form. He finished 81st overall at the Tour de Suisse.
Further disruption followed when Nys contracted toxoplasmosis during the summer. His participation in the Vuelta a España was briefly in doubt, although he recovered sufficiently to start the race.
There have already been signs in Spain that his condition is improving. On 1 September he finished third on stage 10 of the Vuelta, behind Bastien Tronchon and Magnus Cort and just ahead of Wout van Aert. Nys said afterwards that his legs finally felt as he wanted them to and admitted disappointment that he had not converted the opportunity into victory.
That improving form could prove significant for cyclocross.
Nys will again race for Baloise Verzekeringen–Het Poetsbureau Lions, the team managed by his father Sven Nys. The current squad also includes Lars van der Haar, Pim Ronhaar and David Haverdings.
The major question is whether Nys can move from challenger to genuine rival for Mathieu van der Poel. Last winter showed that he can win World Cups and beat virtually everyone else in the field, but Van der Poel remains the benchmark. Nys’ second-place World Cup finish, three victories and championship medals suggest that the gap is narrowing.
The 2026–27 World Cup begins in Ostrava on 27 November, followed by Tábor two days later. Glasgow hosts round three on 13 December, before the traditional Christmas programme in Belgium and France. The series finishes at Hoogerheide on 24 January, with the World Championships in Ostend the following weekend.
For Nys, this winter could be particularly revealing. His road season has not gone to plan, but it may also mean he arrives at cyclocross with something to prove.
If he can combine the consistency of last winter with another step forward physically, Thibau Nys should once again be one of the riders most capable of challenging Van der Poel — and possibly the man best placed to take advantage whenever the world champion is absent.
