European Championships: Thibau Nys wins U23 men's road race title

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Thibau Nys confirmed he is far more than a talented cyclo-cross rider, adding the UEC Road European Championships to his 2020 Junior cyclo-cross world title.

Nys outsprinted Italy’s Filippo Baroncini and Spain’s Juan Ayuso after a group of seven riders went clear in the final laps of the 133km race around Trento.

The 18-year-old Belgian is in his first year in the Under 23 ranks but appears to be as talented as his father Sven, who dominated cyclo-cross between 1999 and 2014 but never emerged in road racing.

Nys had the help of Lennert van Eetvelt after he was caught on the last climb after a solo attack and the seven managed to hold off the peloton in the final kilometres.

Italy’s Filippo Zana made a strong late attack with 1.5km to go but Louis Barré of France closed him down. The others waited for the sprint and Nys held his nerve and position through the final corners and then opened up his sprint with confidence, quickly distancing Baroncini.

“I can’t believe I’m European champion. I was supposed to start my cyclo-cross season today but got the opportunity to ride the Euros and I took it with both hands,” Nys said.

“I didn’t believe it would turn out like this today. It was a hard race in the final. I almost missed the right group on the last lap and I was suffering with cramps but I managed to get up front. I knew that if I could get over the top with those guys, then I could win the race. I did that.

Nys is the rising star of Belgian cyclo-cross and is now likely to lead the Belgian team in the World Championships in Flanders. Yet his victory in Trento eased rather than increased the expectations on his young shoulders.

“I think I can go relaxed into the next few weeks, all that comes now is a bonus,” he said.