Ailing Nys skips Middelkerke, returns to win

After turning himself inside-out just to grab a second place in Loenhout, Sven Nys admitted that he felt terrible. “Normally I’m riding a race based on the sensations my body gives me, now I was riding more against those sensations. Today I crossed my borders to grab that important second place; a result that was the most I could possibly aim for here. I’m feeling miserable now,” said Nys in the post-race interview.

The next day, Nys awoke to a fever and cold symptoms, and decided against starting in Middelkerke, despite expressing a strong desire to fulfill his obligation to the race promoters. "The cold is not entirely gone but there is clearly much progress. The extra day of rest on Friday has certainly helped me become healthy more rapidly. I want offer my apologies once again to the people of Middelkerke for my absence." Nys said on his personal website.

After two days of rest, Nys overcame his cold enough to take his 150th career win, and his sixth of six Superprestige wins in Diegem, and then another win at the GP Sven Nys in Baal. Nys is taking every necessary step to regain his top form with an eye to defending his Belgian national title in Hamme-Zogge next week.