Interview | Thibau Nys already anticipates beating from Van der Poel and co: "Clear difference in level"

Thibau Nys (Trek-Segafredo) is one of Belgium's greatest cycling talents. In the recent held Tour of Norway, the 20-year-old Flemish rider, who is also an avid cyclocross racer, secured his first professional victory. Not long after, the young rider impressively added the GP Kanton Aargau to his list of achievements. In the Baloise Belgium Tour, which will be held June 14th to 18th, Nys hopes to showcase his skills on occasion. IDLProCycling.com interviewed the beloved rider prior to the Belgian stage race.

Many a cycling enthusiast can imagine expectations being sky-high when it comes to a super talent like Nys, both from the press and the public. Especially in a race like the Baloise Belgium Tour, for which he has been considered a dark horse for the overall victory, external expectations could be extremely high, not in the least because it is a race on home soil.

According to Nys himself, however, he handles the "increased pressure" quite well. He says, "I can handle it pretty well and not let it get to me. The outside world will probably be disappointed if I don't win a stage here in Belgium, but it's not that easy, of course," the cheerful Belgian rider tells this website.

"I just really enjoy being at the start alongside Van der Poel," says Thibau Nys

The fact that Nys lost a full quarter of an hour on day one and hence can forget about the general classification won't bother him. He was already modest about his ambitions before the start of the stage - and for good reason. "I would already be very happy if I can show myself in the finale a few times. I hope to be in the mix at least a couple of times. Anything beyond that is a bonus. I'm already very pleased with what I've shown this year. So, I don't really feel any pressure."

It should come as no surprise, then, that Thibau regularly consults with his father Sven, who himself was a more than respectable cyclist, about the ins and outs of competing at the highest level. "But over the past few years, I have also become much more independent. In that regard, I think I have already made good progress. I always try to enjoy racing, and I always give my utmost," adds the U23 cyclocross world champion.

Nys consistently remains modest when it comes to his ambitions in the five-day race in Belgium, even when it comes to a promised battle with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Perhaps a showdown against the Dutchman in a punchy finale? When presented with this scenario by IDLProCycling.com, the talented rider chuckles for a moment. "Personally, I don't see it that way. The difference in level is clearly too big. But I simply enjoy lining up alongside him and being able to measure myself against him at certain moments. Ultimately, Van der Poel is indeed from a different planet," he concludes.

Youri van den Berg (Twitter: @YourivndnBerg)