Nys guys finish first - Thibau, second of his name, Coronation Thread

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With the first GC title of his career, feels like he also deserves his own thread.

Already with European titles on the road and World and European titles on the fields during his junior and U23 career, it seems like he is affirming himself as a threat to be feared in the near future already on the road.

Already with 6 pro wins sinced he joined the WT ranks, it looks he packs a MVDP-like punch with more natural ability towards the climbs in his build. Will the Ardennes be his destination?
 
Jul 10, 2014
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Sad, I was working on an extensive thread for him these last days since I made a reservation for it previously.

I guess you can still post the info here, just edit your thread. It's not the same as having first post obviously, but at least the info will be useful to others. If I made the thread the title would be "Thibau Nys is the new Belgian Remco Evenepoel".
 
Apr 26, 2023
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Already with 6 pro wins sinced he joined the WT ranks, it looks he packs a MVDP-like punch with more natural ability towards the climbs in his build. Will the Ardennes be his destination?
That's a perfect description of what he felt like watching him this week. He surely has a smaller fram than VdP, and that will be an advantage in some races, but i still want to see him try the flemish classic. GC is probably a big stretch, especcially considering he hasn't shown TT talent so far
 
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May 18, 2023
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As most cyclocrossriders, he has some benefits in building physical capabilities. Resulting in physical resistance and/or punch and/or speed. We all known the beasts VDP and Van Aert. But also second class crossers, with all due respect, who became a road racer later in life, appear to be or become (sub)toppers in certain specialties. Merlier is a topsprinter, Hermans an allrounder, Vermeersch (superdomestique of VDP and Philipsen) is allround on cobbles and Flanders classics and gravel.

Thibau Nys was trained from an early age by his father (technical) and a whole team of specialists. With results at very young age. The only problem is that he doesn't seem to have an impressive engine. As a U 23 he couldn't prove himself so dominant anymore. At least in cyclocross. On the road he became European champion U 23 defeating Ayuso and co. Later also worldchampion U 23 in cyclocross. Also showing his talent as a pro, but only "now and then".
Thibau Nys will never be able to develop the watts of a Van Aert and MVD. Will never be a real climber, nor a topsprinter. I think he"ll have a future in (semi) classics and short stageraces. Maybe in a few years also in "Flanders". Roubaix could be too difficult with its engine. And Liège too long and demanding in climbing. Grand Tours ? We"ll see. I think the first stages will go fine. But after a few mountain rides?
Of course, he will develop and his engine will become more performant. But the riders of his generation will benefit from the same. But he will be an interesting rider to follow up.
 

KZD

Feb 21, 2019
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While Nys seems to get much less hype, at least on the road, I actually put him up there with De Lie talent wise.

I think he will become a force to be reckon with in the Ardennes classics, while in Liège riders like Pogačar and Remco could be too much to handle both Amstel and Flèche should suit him very well. Strade and Sanremo should also suit him quite well just as some of the fall classics. I am less bullish on RVV and cobbled classics in general (I think he is simple too light for Roubaix)

After his performance in the Tour of Hungary, I also think that he has a future as a stage racer, especially in those without long mountains or time trials and in Grand Tours, I think his built will enable him to be capable to hunt several kinds stages, hilly ones, flat will uphill finishes and even proper medium mountain stages, a parcours like Vuelta this year would be great for him.

It will be interesting to see how soon will he decide ditch most of the cyclocross season and focus almost entirely on the road.
 
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A lengthy interview with his trainer and his father on Sporza, in Dutch. You can put it through your translator of choice.

 
Oct 5, 2009
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Now time is way too fast-forwarding! Feels very old in a glimse. Please press hold.
Skimmed title and immediate thoughts "oh been a while hearing from this young talent Sven...what is he up to now?".
Before realizing it was about his...grown up...son!
Man, that hit hard.
 
Now time is way too fast-forwarding! Feels very old in a glimse. Please press hold.
Skimmed title and immediate thoughts "oh been a while hearing from this young talent Sven...what is he up to now?".
Before realizing it was about his...grown up...son!
Man, that hit hard.
Feels like only a few years ago, that at the end of every cross, the camera would always show 2-3 year old Thibau on his kid bike in the mud, while the riders were getting ready to get on the podium.

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May 5, 2010
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Now time is way too fast-forwarding! Feels very old in a glimse. Please press hold.
Skimmed title and immediate thoughts "oh been a while hearing from this young talent Sven...what is he up to now?".
Before realizing it was about his...grown up...son!
Man, that hit hard.

You're like Brian Holm, still going around calling Cavendish "the kid".

What did he say Bart Wellens is?
 
Sep 20, 2017
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'Sprinters are a******s. I don't want to be associated with it. What happens in a sprint, is sometimes criminal. Literally criminal. [...] Zoom in on the helicopter images of the final 1.5 kilometres of the first stage [in Hungary] and you could jail five or six guys. [...] Every time I do a bunch sprint is an interesting learning experience, but honestly, I'm happy I don't need to earn a living from them'

- Nys in Het Nieuwsblad yesterday (paywalled, key quotes here)
 
Jul 10, 2014
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'Sprinters are a******s. I don't want to be associated with it. What happens in a sprint, is sometimes criminal. Literally criminal. [...] Zoom in on the helicopter images of the final 1.5 kilometres of the first stage [in Hungary] and you could jail five or six guys. [...] Every time I do a bunch sprint is an interesting learning experience, but honestly, I'm happy I don't need to earn a living from them'

- Nys in Het Nieuwsblad yesterday (paywalled, key quotes here)

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Sep 1, 2023
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A meme clearly not made by a Belgian or anybody who knows what he's talking about. In the past decades the riders heralded as new Merckx were nearly exclusively non-Belgians. Kelderman, Boasson Hagen, Popovych, Pogacar... Nys has never been called a new Merckx. The previous Belgian before Evenepoel who received the honors, died 15 years ago.
Pog a car is on his way. 😉
 
Jan 10, 2019
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Another one. On these finishes he’s already really strong.
That period of rest did him so good. They did it also in CX when he was flying at the start and suddenly couldn’t stay in the top 10.
Still finding out some training or peaking I guess. And knowing when to stop for awhile.
 
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