Thibau Nys and Lucinda Brand light up Koppenbergcross

Thibau Nys and Lucinda Brand made a big mark on what’s shaping up to be an impressive season for the Baloise Glowi Lions, winning the famed Koppenbergcross on Saturday. 

Nys won the race for the second time in his young career. He and his father, Sven Nys, have now won on the Koppenberg a combined 11 times. When Thibau won in 2023, he held up 10 fingers as he crossed the finish line to represent his and his father’s legacy. He didn’t manage to find a way to get a shoe and sock off Saturday, but the way he rode showcased the poise and strength that were trademarks of Sven’s historic career.

“It maybe looked easy, but I really suffered out there,” Nys said after the race. “It’s an hour of fighting yourself. I felt in control, but even then you can’t let your focus drop — that’s when mistakes happen.”

Nys finished 21 seconds ahead of second-place Cameron Mason. Teammate Pim Ronhaar joined him on the podium, taking third place at 1:44 back. Ronhaar has now taken four straight podiums.

Brand now has four wins and five podiums in five starts on the season. The 36-year-old and 2021 World Champion simply refuses to fade. On Saturday, she won by 19 seconds over second-place Célia Gery. She then completed a perfect weekend with a win in Sunday’s Rapencross in Lokeren, where she patiently weathered aggressive attacks before making a decisive acceleration. 

“I was more anticipating,” Brand said after the race. “Sara [Casasola] had just had a difficult section and I heard her breathing hard. Now I know that doesn’t always say much, but I thought: I’ll see where it leads.”

The Lions now have 10 podiums on the season, all by Brand, Nys and Ronhaar. Veteran Lars van der Haar, racing his final season, is also riding strong, with five top 10 finishes. The cross season is heating up fast, just in time to keep us warm during the winter months.