After a successful debut pro season, 21-year-old Nys has entrusted his continued development to Lidl-Trek and Baloise Trek Lions
Having only turned pro at the start of 2023, Thibau Nys has enjoyed a season beyond expectations. The multi-disciplined rider races on the road for Lidl-Trek and in cyclocross for Baloise Trek Lions, and has agreed a contract extension with both teams.
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Nys started the year by achieving one of his main goals: the rainbow jersey in the cyclocross Under 23 World Championships. After a short break, Nys swapped his attention to the road, diving in at the deep end with a series of Belgian semi-classics. A second place in the first stage of the Tour of Romandie caught the attention of many, but Nys had to wait until the Tour of Norway to claim his first elite road victory, where he was able to showcase his ability on a punchy uphill finish. Within a fortnight, Nys doubled his win tally with another impressive victory in the one-day GP des Kantons Aargau.
In October, Nys made his return to ‘cross, having left behind the Under 23 ranks to race in the Elite category. He confirmed it was the correct decision to make the early transition by winning his first World Cup, made all the more sweet in front of a roaring ‘home’ crowd in Trek’s back yard in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Nys is already exceeding expectations, and is looking forward to seeing how far he can go with the support of Lidl-Trek and Baloise Trek Lions.
“I didn’t expect to already win two races in my road career, it came a lot earlier than I thought, along with some nice podiums,” said Nys. “I enjoyed it so much and it’s something I’ll never forget. I learned a lot; I think it’s the year that I learned the most about myself and about racing, training and recovery. Racing with some really big names helped me to gain more experience and it’s something that will help me in the next years also.”
“There were some ups and downs, and I’ll try to get rid of the downs in the next seasons as much as possible. There were some races where I wasn’t at my usual level, and that’s something I’ll try to work on. It feels amazing to be a part of this team, surrounded by this friendly, funny and professional group of people. I think it’s the best combination to grow in the next few years, and I’m looking forward to it so much.
“I’ll take it step by step as I grow, and hopefully I can win more races in the future. I want to level up my game, ride bigger races and become more consistent in my results. The bottom line is I want to win more races!”
Speaking of Thibau’s development, Lidl-Trek General Manager Luca Guercilena said “We’ve known about Thibau’s potential for a while due to his long-term involvement in the Trek family. To see him turn pro on the road with us and perform as soon as pulled on the jersey has been particularly pleasing. Thibau’s strength is his versatility – he can win on a variety of terrains and his fast sprint is a great card to play after a hard race. We’re pleased to have him signed to Lidl-Trek until 2026 so we can work together, without the need to rush, so that he can reach his very best level.”
