Bobby and Jens catch up with Thibau Nys after his breakout year on the road. This year he combined a cyclocross campaign with 9 wins on the road. He tells Bobby and Jens how he pushed on this year, how he prepares for his races and how he deals with having his dad as his boss...

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If my critics, saw me walking over water,

they would say it was

2

because I couldn't swim.

3

Our guest today

4

grew up with a superstar dad, but

he has found a way on his own to carve out

5

not only a successful career on the road,

but also in cyclocross.

6

Thibau

Nys joins us today on the odd tandem.

7

Jensie What a talk that was indeed.

8

What a talk dad was because Thibau

Nys is only 21 years old,

9

but his wisdom is far beyond his age.

10

The way he talks, the way he looks at life

11

and at his job

and at challenges in his life and his job.

12

Absolutely fantastic.

13

And it's it's a proper, like picture book

14

example of how athletes should think.

15

Yes, I agree.

16

And you know, we both have daughters,

you know, around his age,

17

like the way that he speaks

just really wanted me to say, hey,

18

do you have a girlfriend?

19

I'd really like to introduce you

to my daughter because, like,

20

you just don't hear 21 year

old kids talk like that.

21

But it's all up to you.

22

Sit back, relax and listen

to our great conversation with Thibau Nys.

23

Alright, everyone, here we go again

24

with another episode of the odd tandem

welcoming Thibau knees to the show.

25

How are you doing, Thibau?

26

It's good to see you guys.

27

Thanks for having me. I'm doing great.

28

Well, I got to ask, man.

29

Second year as a pro,

almost double digit wins.

30

Yeah.

31

What did you learn

or figure out in the second year

32

as a pro that allowed

you have so many big wins this year?

33

I think it's kind of a combination

of everything.

34

You know, all the the puzzle

pieces are slowly fitting into each other.

35

The, the training,

like the level of training

36

and the intensity

and the hours are rising.

37

I get to know my body a lot more.

38

So all of these small, like.

39

Yeah, pieces, they, they, they slowly

fit into the into the, to the big part.

40

And, I think this.

41

Yeah, worked out in a way

that I could only dream of before of this

42

before the season and, yeah, it's

it's been amazing to to look back at it.

43

It's, it's crazy.

44

Before we actually go deeper

into your training, your preparation

45

for this season and how it all happened,

we have four quickfire questions.

46

Wait, just give us a short answer,

all right?

47

The first thing that comes to your mind

is the answer.

48

Okay, let's start with number one.

49

Hilltop sprint or breakaway?

50

The hilltop sprint, for sure.

51

Solo training or group ride.

52

Solo training.

53

Your favorite tattoo?

54

Oh, it's, I can show it's, piece of,

55

Sorry. Oh, awesome.

56

Yeah, it's super nice.

57

And,

what is the best thing about cyclocross?

58

For sure?

59

Yep. That's a good answer to

it is the fans.

60

Yeah, well, you know, we had your

your dad on a recent podcast

61

and he, he explained us a little bit

about how good it is.

62

And, I was riding with two buddies today

that we're also ex pros.

63

And I said, hey, you know,

we got to try to get over there

64

and do you know, and experience

a cyclocross race in Belgium

65

with Sven's help

because it sounds sounds amazing,

66

but, so let's get back

to those little puzzle pieces.

67

I mean, you're just you're

you're about to turn 22.

68

So this year you were 21. Yeah.

69

You know,

you were world under 23, champion.

70

Tell us about your your first win

71

as a pro for the little track team

and what that meant to you.

72

It was, I was building up that win

73

a little bit, you know, I was getting

closer and closer and closer.

74

Starting

off with, a second place in Romania.

75

Then also a second place in a stage

in, in tour of Hungary.

76

And I was feeling like,

damn, I'm getting really close, but like,

77

the final piece was missing, and,

and then the

78

I think it was stage,

79

three in, stage 2 or 3 in Tour of Norway,

80

where I got,

like the best lead out ever from my team.

81

With Jasper Steuven as my last guy.

82

And and when when a champion

like like him.

83

You know, I was growing up

seeing him in the team and things like

84

this is from my area, and,

85

of course, winner of San Remo and and yet,

86

to get him as my final guy

lounging on the, on the steep little kick.

87

Yeah. That you have to finish it off.

88

You know, I was

I was so relieved and I was so.

89

Yeah, so happy.

90

And I think the next week I won again.

91

So which one of them

did you enjoy the most?

92

On the road.

93

It's a bit, it's a bit difficult.

94

I think the stage in Tour

de Suisse was really emotional.

95

I crashed in Gippinger a,

96

few days before, in, in.

97

Yeah, in the last 150m in a scenario

where I should always win the race.

98

But it was. Yeah, my own fault.

99

And then, that evening,

we were riding to the hotel to Tour de

100

Suisse and, completely like,

full of, scratches and wounds and,

101

and everything, you know, and, me and,

and at the.

102

DS, I think it was,

I think it was Rusty and we were going

103

to, to do the recon of the stage,

to see the final climb,

104

of stage three of the race with

and I was looking at, I say, okay, I'm

105

going to take revenge here.

106

And then, I still remember

107

during the whole stage

I was feeling, super bad.

108

The legs were not there.

109

I was suffering some, some subtle pain.

110

I was not relaxed on the bike.

111

The body was was holding quite some liquid

from the, from the crash, and

112

I didn't really believe in it,

but I always kept.

113

Kept going, kept going.

114

And the more you get into that final,

the more confidence I got. And.

115

And one moment

I flipped the switch and then to to win.

116

At that moment, it was like a really

a roller coaster of emotions.

117

But between that win

that you just described in Tour

118

de Suisse this year and Tour of Poland,

there was a big gap.

119

I mean, Tour of Suisse is what in July.

120

Yeah.

121

And Tour of Poland is in August,

I believe, from memory.

122

What what did you do in between that?

123

I know you did your Belgian nationals,

but what what set you up for

124

those dominating three wins

in the Tour of Poland in the World tour?

125

Again, I think this is quite

an interesting story because, of course

126

I did the nationals after Suisse, which

was, also really, really great result.

127

I think I surprised myself in that race.

128

And then I

it was the plan to have like five,

129

six days off, have a small break, rest,

because it was already quite a long,

130

long period.

131

I was racing,

so I took like five, six days off.

132

And then I started training again.

133

And from the first day

I was starting training again, I was,

134

developing

like a kind of a knee injury I had,

135

I don't really know the words, but, yeah,

some over overuse on the on my kneecap.

136

And then I went to Girona

137

to train, but, like, seven days

without touching the bike.

138

Just because of this, this knee problem

and this combining

139

with the week of rest

I had put me quite back some time.

140

And, normally it was a plan to race

141

in, to the wall

only just before, Poland.

142

And then, okay, the knee got better

and I start training again,

143

but then I was,

I was feeling like I was just

144

physically not ready to race

in, in Wallonia.

145

And, the team called me and,

146

it was like, every day with, with a team

147

doctor, with my doctor,

with, rds, with my coach, with my dad.

148

Always like, going around to see

what are we going to do, what's the plan?

149

And then, I made a decision to not race

in, Tour de Wallonia.

150

It was also one of my big goals

for the season, because I think I could,

151

could win maybe 2 or 3 stages

and even maybe go for the GC.

152

It's close to home.

153

I always, like to ride over there.

154

Also, the team felt like them.

155

We are missing, a really nice shot

to have, to have some wins.

156

But I said, yeah,

if if I'm going to ride now in while only,

157

maybe I forgot myself even more,

I will not have any wins.

158

And I will also not be ready

for Tour of Poland, because I

159

dig myself deeper

into the into the into the problems.

160

And then the, they said, okay,

161

are we going to trust you

and just do what you need to do?

162

And then I trained like a crazy guy,

163

and, I came back in the shape

I wanted, and I think, it's it's

164

really an example of how you need to think

and how your approach needs to be.

165

And, as soon as I did.

166

Yeah.

167

My first, race after this, this period,

after this knee injury

168

and after two weeks of training,

I was there. I want.

169

So could you feel when you started to off

Poland,

170

could you feel in your body, your body

responding, hey, I am winning material.

171

I don't need this race to prepare

for other races.

172

I can win here.

173

Did you feed it from day one? Yes.

174

I'm,

175

we train so hard in this period.

176

Before that, also because we,

we didn't have so much time.

177

So, you know, after three really hard

two weeks,

178

you're feeling starts to go a bit down,

you know, because the body started.

179

Your heart rate

is not not going up anymore.

180

The legs feel a feel not fresh.

181

You're not reaching that

that really high power,

182

you can normally have in,

like having the legs.

183

So then we made a decision to do,

184

like, three rest days,

one week before of Poland.

185

And then I did

one really hard training again.

186

And then on this day,

I felt I was ready to win.

187

And, I'm.

188

I'm this type of guy

who really needs this,

189

how do you say, like,

to build up the confidence

190

in the training

and to feel like, okay, I'm ready for it.

191

And I'm, like the feeling,

I'm doing the trainings,

192

that will get me the wins.

193

I always have.

194

The thing in my mind,

I don't to win during the races.

195

I win during my trainings.

196

And the racing is the easy part.

197

That's just having fun and doing the hard

work is all is all past, you know?

198

And and during that week before, Poland

in that one training, I felt like,

199

okay, this is this is it I have what

what I, what I need to win because I,

200

I felt this also in the wins I had before.

201

How things have changed Jensie?

202

A 21 year old putting his hand up

203

with this sort of concern

204

and this sort of confidence, said,

hey, if I go to this race,

205

I'm not going to be ready,

but I'm going to be ready.

206

And you, you were, because you won

the first stage of Tour of Poland.

207

So I just kind of want to flag that up.

208

You know, this year

Lidl-Trek had 43 wins.

209

You know, last year they had 27.

210

So a big, big improvement.

211

So I just want to stop right here

and compliment not only you

212

as a 21 year old

to kind of put your hand in the fire

213

and you know, it could have gotten bit off

because, I mean, Jens and I

214

if we said something like that

215

at that age or as a second year pro,

it wouldn't have happened.

216

So compliments not only to you

but to Lidl-Trek your management

217

because that's the way that young riders

should be treated.

218

And obviously they're coddling the young

riders a lot more than they ever did.

219

But in this sort of positive way,

that's what I love to hear.

220

And I also I really, really appreciate

that they gave me this around for

221

for trainings for, for like trusting me

to, to, to just do my thing.

222

I'm totally aware that even to this day,

not only in the past, but

223

also to this day, there are a lot of teams

that have the mindset that, okay,

224

we pay you. You need to be there to race.

225

And, I think this is in most ways

226

not not positive for both sides, you know,

because I will not be ready to race

227

and I will also not perform it, perform

at my highest level.

228

So we don't

we both don't get anything from it.

229

And, I think I slowly build up

this confidence in the team, you know,

230

because, also after the cyclocross season

this year or like beginning this year,

231

I took a break of,

232

two and a half weeks of rest,

233

and then I had a really long,

buildup, period.

234

Because I only started in Romandie and,

some people were saying like, oh, hey.

235

So, I don't even need to race.

236

Is is taking a long time,

where I think some teams

237

really will have the,

the feeling like, okay, come on.

238

It's, opening weekend or it's,

I don't know, you need to ride.

239

You know, you need to

to do no crash course and and do,

240

I don't know whether it's

which kind of races.

241

But they're they gave me the room,

and they immediately saw that.

242

Okay, if we if we can if we can do this,

he will he will deliver.

243

I think that is a really big,

step in the learning

244

curve there for for the team and for you

that you can build up trust on, on

245

both sides.

246

And it paid off.

247

Hey, I'm just curious that super hard

training you did before to have Poland.

248

Yeah. What was it?

249

How many hours?

250

What sort of intervals?

What gave you the feeling that.

251

Oh, man, I'm on top of it. I'm good. Now.

252

It's, it's a it's a it's a training

I do a lot.

253

It's, eight times, ten minutes.

254

On, Rosier climb in the Ardennes.

255

What, eight times ten. Yeah.

256

It's it's 80 minutes.

257

It's an hour 24 I guess.

258

It's it's a five hour training. Yeah.

259

And on only the effort stake

already like two hours 30 or 2 hours. 40.

260

Yeah. Wow.

261

And you're doing that at your quote

unquote threshold

262

FTP sort of intensity

or are you kind of stair step in those.

263

It depends.

264

I did some at like, always the same pace,

265

you know,

but I, I usually go like, to go

266

a little bit deeper in that

the first one is like 20, 40.

267

The second one is like, steady pace,

268

ten minutes, like just above threshold.

269

Second one is 30/30.

270

Then, third one is again

just above threshold.

271

Then it's, a 40/20, then again

ten minutes just above threshold.

272

And then it's like, one more,

which is three minutes,

273

then two minutes a little bit lower

and three minutes and two minutes again.

274

And then the last one is all out.

275

So, so you mentioned that

276

you prefer solo

training over group training.

277

I think I know your answer to this one,

but why?

278

Why do you choose?

279

Solo training over group training?

280

If, if I'm in the wheels, I'm

not training.

281

Yeah.

282

That's true.

283

And you always.

284

It's so easy to get corrupted.

285

I mean, in a friendly, in a positive way

by your friends, you know?

286

Yeah.

287

You know, you have to plan. Okay.

288

I'm going to do one hour warm up,

and then I stop at intervals,

289

and then your friends go, you know what?

290

Why don't we go 1.5 hours easy,

and then you start to enter.

291

What's,

292

Why don't you stop at a coffee shop

and then you do the interval.

293

So when you alone,

you can exactly do what you want.

294

Exactly.

295

So I see the comfort in the group,

but also the potential problem.

296

Right. And I believe that's another reason

why you go.

297

If I'm alone, I can decide

when I want to go on some days

298

I really love to to ride with some friends

and with a group and.

299

But then everyone knows that

300

the guys that I'm training with,

except for when it's in a team,

301

you know, then it's different

when you're on training camp.

302

But when I'm at home or in Spain

and training with some guys,

303

they just know that

304

I will always ride in the front

and I will almost not sit in the wheels.

305

But I can I can always enjoy a nice group

ride, that's for sure.

306

But,

307

not when when I have to train.

308

I always like to have.

309

The quality is really high every day.

310

I, I definitely went through

different phases in my career of,

311

you know, group training,

and I let that kind of take over.

312

And like you said, Jens

that four hour ride would turn into a six

313

hour ride,

314

maybe even a seven hour ride,

because you'd stop at three different

315

coffee shops

and just kind of waste your time.

316

But when you're out there

riding by yourself,

317

you can get the work in that

you need to get in in four hours

318

and then go back and recover and go back

319

and spend time with your family

and doing things that you want to do.

320

So, another really good thing.

321

So are you fueling the same

322

during this sort of intense training

that you would in the races?

323

Because what you just described

is definitely,

324

using a lot of sugar.

325

Yeah.

326

And I think that Jens our generation

until maybe the last couple of years,

327

we just didn't really ever eat enough

during the training.

328

But are you preparing, like, your bottles

and the stuff that you have

329

in your pockets or that,

330

you know somebody may be following you

in the car to to take

331

on a massive load of carbohydrates

to fuel these intense efforts?

332

You, should you even start

need to start thinking already.

333

Almost the day before because it almost

feels like a race day, you know?

334

And when it's a really hot

or a really cold day,

335

I try to have someone following me

because, as I said, it's like a

336

two hour, 30

minute, 2 hour, 40 minute effort nonstop,

337

just going up and down and, Yeah,

if it's hard, you just drink.

338

Almost.

339

Yeah. Two and a half, three liters in.

340

In that time, you cannot bring

bring all of this with you.

341

But yeah, it's it's it's,

342

it's getting more and more normal to,

343

to don't even go under

100g, of carbs per hour

344

for a whole.

345

Yeah.

346

I mean, back in our early days,

do you recall,

347

if you eat within the first hour

your week, that's bad.

348

You know, they would laugh at you

if you start to eat in the first year.

349

Oh, I see why you you're so we.

350

If I do a four hour easy ride,

I'm not 100g, but, trainings like this.

351

Yeah. You should.

352

It's it's probably above as well.

353

Yeah.

354

So when, when, you,

355

now going into the cyclocross season,

356

a saddle crosses is about an hour, right?

357

You still eat within that one hour,

or you charge up once.

358

We already talk about food,

359

you already charge up before,

and then you don't eat any.

360

I don't need anything

during this one hour.

361

Except for when it's really hard to.

362

I just have a, like,

a bottle of, energy or is.

363

I don't drink, you know, but,

that's almost, almost never.

364

So it's just you're just fully loaded

and you're good to go for one hour.

365

I definitely want to ask more

about cyclocross, but I have to ask you

366

this question because, you know,

you're you're considered a sprinter now.

367

I mean, you don't win those races

without being a sprinter, but you, you

368

you have been quoted as saying

369

that sprinters are sometimes

not the nicest guys in the peloton.

370

And what happens in a sprint is sometimes

criminal, literally criminal.

371

I was never a sprinter.

372

I was that way in the back

trying to stay clear of those guys.

373

But you did

see those clashes from time to time.

374

If you're a sprinter,

375

that means that you're like seeing

376

these, these moves

and seeing the fear a little bit.

377

How do you combat that?

378

Because when we spoke with your dad,

your dad said he was terrified

379

watching you in these sprints.

380

But what is kind of a little bit

of explanation of of of what

381

I just said about your your quotes of it

being sometimes, quite nasty up there.

382

Well, the good thing is, I'm not I'm

not a full hundred percent pure sprinter.

383

You know,

I won 11 races now or ten, 10 or 11 races.

384

And I never won in a on a flat,

finish line.

385

But on the other hand, you,

386

you see those scenarios and

387

you're involved in all of those sprints,

at a really high speed.

388

And most of the time,

the things you see in TV is like the first

389

five of the first ten guys.

390

And then,

they speak about someone crossing, over

391

or moving from their line or,

boxing someone else in.

392

But the real shit is like 10 or 20 plays

behind this, you know, where

393

everyone is still trying to move up

and and going crazy.

394

And the higher the level of the race,

the that the, the less dangerous it gets.

395

But for example,

I wrote a tour of Hungary.

396

Now, two years in a row,

I see some things that it's it's crazy.

397

It's really crazy.

398

People taking their, their, their hands

399

over their handlebars and just, like,

almost grabbing on someone else.

400

And then. Yeah, it's crazy.

401

It's not all the time,

but there, there happens some there.

402

Yeah, it just happens. And it's not nice.

403

Did do you, you think when you see about

404

it seems to be safe at higher quality

or higher standard level races

405

that people like two of Hungary

for example, they are desperate.

406

That is the one and only chance

in the entire year

407

to perform in front of world two teams.

408

So they want to have a podium place or win

so they can see, hey, look,

409

I'm good enough to take to be

a member of Lidl-Trek or Quick-Step or,

410

you know, Ineos Grenadiers, maybe more

411

because he desperate to get in

and when you already.

412

I mean, you know, Pogacar or Vingegaard,

they don't want to crash

413

because they already established.

414

You think there's a connection

or is it just it's it's it's both because,

415

as you said, like the, the GC guys, they

don't get involved in the, the sprint.

416

And when you see a really a pure,

bunch sprint

417

in the Tour de France,

you see like maybe there is still like,

418

20 guys,

25 guys and then the rest is coming like

419

little by little, still in one line,

but not the full bunch, you know, and,

420

the other thing is when a race

like to the Hungary tour of Hungary

421

in the when it's, for our race,

the first three hours, you have like

422

maybe 120, 110 average power,

so no one is getting dropped.

423

Everyone is fresh yoursel,

and everyone thinks they can.

424

They can be there and they want to be

there and on world to level.

425

These days, 60 K to go with the road

is just fully blocked and you're riding

426

60 K an hour and the guys in front

are pushing 500 towards and it's.

427

And when you, you know,

you want to move up,

428

you need to do a full sprint

to maybe catch one guy in the next corner.

429

You lose again 2 or 3 spots.

430

So everyone is completely on their limit.

431

And which also results that the

432

the sprints in the end are a bit safer

because it takes,

433

there is a lot of energy

already taken away.

434

But when, when you win as many races

as you have during

435

the first two seasons of your career,

you know there's a progression.

436

Sure, there's going to be a lot of races

with that uphill

437

finish that you're obviously

very gifted and talented at.

438

But what are you looking at for

to focus on next year?

439

Because it's always step by step, right?

440

People want more and more.

441

Are you looking at the monuments?

442

A race like Strade Bianche? Amstel?

443

What what what what sort of changes

do you see in your race program

444

for next year compared?

445

Like, I think Strada and especially San

Remo will suit me in the future,

446

but it will be just too soon for next year

because cyclocross is still there.

447

And then there's still a really important

to me.

448

And it's almost impossible

to to race from now

449

and then go on to Saturday

more and everything.

450

But I think in the future

I really want to do those races.

451

But if, if I look forward to next year,

there is one race

452

that really pops into my mind immediately

every time.

453

And that's, flesh.

454

Well, on and, I will

I will really try to be there

455

at my best level possible, and,

I will, I will do, solo.

456

Also, normally.

457

It's a good race

458

because it's 50km shorter,

so that makes a huge difference.

459

It's 1.5 hours less of racing.

460

You are younger. Right.

461

So maybe, you know, I like to be good.

462

I like to do the long races.

463

Okay. Yeah.

464

Yeah, I really, like, should suit you.

465

Suit you really well, I think so.

466

I think the finish line,

is something that

467

that that could fit my, my qualities,

you know, and,

468

I think one of the first times

I really wrote, beautifully,

469

a couple of years ago

with the cyclocross team and,

470

I really that that's not even,

471

a period in my life

where I ever thought I was going to be

472

a road rider or, racing on the road

winning races on the road.

473

But at that time,

I know when I was thinking

474

if I would ever win a road race,

it would be this one.

475

And now it's funny to see myself evolving

476

in this kind of rider

that could win there potentially one day.

477

And it's nice.

478

So, I think this is, first

big goal of next year.

479

Okay.

480

So you said that you liked longer races

and we've been watching

481

today, Pogacar

recently at the Worlds in Lombardia.

482

Do these ultra long attacks.

483

Does that style of racing,

484

those long bombs that he's chucking out

and coming away with the victories,

485

does that impact how you train?

486

You know, looking at those longer efforts?

487

Or is it just the

the team has to be more kind

488

of consolidated to control

that initial acceleration that he makes?

489

I never been in a race with him.

490

Like this.

491

So, yeah, he's he's

492

he's rewriting the rules of cycling,

you know, and it's,

493

I think everyone is, for the moment,

and panicking

494

with their hands in their hair,

not knowing how to approach this problem

495

and, and

and to to see how we can avoid this.

496

But it's, it's getting crazy, and,

497

I'm, I'm not thinking too much about it,

and I'm just trying to

498

to focus on being in a super shape myself

499

and taking my chances

where where it is possible.

500

But I don't think

501

there are a lot of, times where,

502

like, a break

503

made it in, for example, flesh

or the guys going solo because it's always

504

just in the last game, seeing

who is the strongest.

505

But imagine the shape he’s in now.

506

Yeah, maybe he will go.

507

So no, I don't know.

508

On on the the last time I do

the penultimate last time on on the way

509

and then, then we see something

that is never been been seen before.

510

And then it takes also away my qualities,

you know, because then we are racing

511

a totally different race.

512

And I

513

was also wondering sometimes in these days

if you go to a sport director and go,

514

hey, next season I want to do every ways

where Pogacar is not right,

515

but then then you go, and

I also don't want to race with Vingegaard,

516

with Remco and Wout van

Aert and Mathieu van der Poel.

517

There are so many superstars.

518

It isn't.

519

It's sometimes like a little bit

520

frightening to go,

oh my, we've got five absolute superstars.

521

Where's my little place in this world?

522

Because I don't think, Bobby in our time,

we had such dominant riders

523

like we see this year.

524

Right.

525

Or this is just part of a cycling

right now.

526

So it's it's sometimes frightening

or you go, I cannot wait

527

to go face to face against but it's

528

when you I think when you,

529

when you really compete on, on let's say,

530

on their strong parts.

531

I mean, I would be, I would be scared

to, to go head

532

to head with Mathieu and Roubaix,

you know, but just the same as

533

I would be really scared to go head

to head with Vingegaard on the long climb.

534

But I would just try to,

535

to get better at my specialty.

536

And we also saw, for example,

in Poland that,

537

even on the highest level,

when finger guard is there,

538

this is something I can be maybe the guy

in, in the, in the future that that,

539

that is this guy in this type of finishes.

540

So I, I really like

541

when the, when the, with the big stars

that are there and,

542

it motivates me and I also look up,

543

with a lot of,

yeah enthusiasm to how they are riding

544

and with a lot of respect and, yeah,

I don't see negative.

545

I, I see it

as a, as a nice thing to compete with.

546

okay.

547

I have one more question

about your road program, because I know we

548

we have a lot of questions

about cyclocross.

549

Do you see a grand tour in your future

550

90% sure. Yes,

551

yes. Yeah.

552

And if I can ask, which one

would you prefer to do?

553

This is also a difficult question

because, for me, it really don't matter.

554

I mean, if I would do,

would Giro, Vuelta or tour or even Tour?

555

For me, it it really don't matter.

556

But the thing is that Giro will be a

quite soon or after a cyclocross season.

557

But but I think possible

558

to starting a tour is,

is maybe also a bit like,

559

not a usual thing to do,

especially in our team.

560

But then to start at

Vuelta is already really close

561

to the next cyclocross season.

562

So it all has as there are consequences,

you know?

563

And when you would have asked me,

I would say the tour because the

564

just the timing is the

is the easiest for me, for my schedule,

565

for my build up towards the cyclocross

season and towards the road season.

566

So, I would prefer Tour de France,

567

but it's, I'm the last guy to, to say,

568

hey, guys, I need this part, or

I want this part, or I deserve this part.

569

It's something you need to earn.

570

And, I will follow the team

with their advice and with the plan.

571

They see, for

me the next couple of years.

572

Well, then

573

let's make a transition

with a daring question to cyclocross,

574

because cyclocross is going to become

a presently a sport at the Olympics.

575

I'm curious,

are you focusing already on that?

576

Looking forward

577

And cyclocross?

578

And do you believe it will help cyclocross

579

to become worldwide more popular?

580

But for the moment,

I'm not looking that far into the future.

581

Because I'm, I'm really busy

getting getting myself

582

into shape and holding myself into shape

now for the moment.

583

But it can be interesting, you know,

584

I mean, it's clear

that cyclocross is not what it used to be.

585

From the year 2010 - 2015,

586

I don't know, but

587

I'm not 100% sure

588

that this is the way to get it

bigger, to get it into the Olympics.

589

I mean, we

we try to go to the States as well to,

590

to do the World Cups over there,

which was,

591

which was something

I always really love to do.

592

I really like the atmosphere

there, the people to raise

593

do the trip and to and to be there.

594

But,

595

you cannot

forget that it's just a local sport.

596

It's Belgium and Netherlands

and for the rest.

597

Yeah. Okay.

We have some World Cups in France.

598

We have some World Cups in Spain or Italy,

but it's all based around Belgium.

599

And,

600

when it's big in Belgium, it's really big.

601

And I don't see it as a problem

that it's only big here.

602

And now we are trying to make it big

in all over the world,

603

but we are forgetting the core that it's

604

getting less big in Belgium,

if that makes sense.

605

And if you know what I mean.

606

Like, we are losing a little bit of the,

607

yeah, the,

608

the core business,

you know, like the tradition.

609

Keeping it big in Belgium.

610

Yeah.

611

And, I want to

612

I don't I don't see how the Olympics

is going to change all of this, you know.

613

Good point.

614

Good point.

615

Well, I have to ask

because I have no idea,

616

what sort of training?

617

Like what changes in your training from

the road season to the cyclocross season?

618

And how long do you think that transition

takes to get, like, ping in

619

from being from pinging on the road

620

to making that switch

and then pinging in cyclocross?

621

I think this was something,

622

I could give you a perfect

answer to, normally

623

in a normal situation

or maybe even in 2 or 3 weeks.

624

But after my last road race

in where I took a week off

625

and I got really sick after this,

this period.

626

So it was again, a bit like,

before I had two weeks

627

of staying completely off the bike.

628

And this put me back some time, you know,

and I still need to

629

to regain my shape, at this time.

630

So for the moment, I'm

not really where I want to be.

631

But to come back at your question,

I think it only takes me two weeks.

632

One and a half even, but.

633

Well, then,

634

I need to be also at my top road shape,

you know what I mean?

635

So if if I just have, for example,

my shape

636

after, Poland or before

637

Poland, just give me one week

638

or two weeks and I will be ready

to win cyclocross races.

639

The only problem

640

I have right now is that, I'm

641

not yet on this road, top shape yet.

642

And with, cyclocross,

643

it is, a different sport and road racing.

644

We had a German

rider was pretty much almost a legend.

645

Kluge.

646

He was three times world champion.

647

He actually used to do some running,

like getting into a trainer.

648

He would start, like an hour,

40 minutes ride

649

and then running for a while

and then cycling again.

650

You do that stuff as well,

or you go, not that's that's 30 years ago.

651

We don't do that anymore. No,

not like this. I do.

652

I have some running trainings for sure.

653

2 or 3 times in a week

I go for a easy run, just more of a,

654

it's more of, like muscle memory,

you know, that you don't

655

you come into the race

and it all feels quite natural

656

when you have to run for,

for some time, but, not with, like,

657

switching bikes to, to, running shoes

and then on and on again.

658

No, not not like this. But I do run. Yeah.

659

So, so in

660

cyclocross you ride for the Baloise Trek

Lions.

661

And your dad just happens

to be your boss.

662

So do you call him dad.

663

Do you call him Mr. Nys.

664

Do you call him boss.

665

Like that's got to be

a pretty interesting dynamic.

666

I it it just Dad for the moment.

667

Yeah, yeah.

668

Okay.

669

We also in public in training, in races.

670

Hey, dad.

671

Next, next lap I change bikes.

672

Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Awesome.

673

That is so cool.

674

But I think he manages in a way that,

675

the me and also the whole team

don't have the feeling that,

676

he's treating me in a different way

than than the other guys.

677

And I think we've

we found a perfect balance in this,

678

and,

Yeah, I think I think we're managing.

679

Well.

680

So then,

681

some technical parts,

for your next race weekend, is it

682

how many bikes, equipment will you bring?

683

How do we have to imagine this?

684

Because you.

685

You're not with the road,

little track team.

686

You're with the second cross team.

687

Now, how much equipment you use

for one weekend?

688

I have

I will have four race bikes with me

689

with, approximately

690

12 or 13 sets of wheels.

691

Oh, that's one set of wheels.

692

Parallel. Yeah, so to speak.

693

And a lot of people who are into road

cycling, they don't really realize,

694

but every cyclocross rider

has their own mechanic.

695

Two of them, most of the time,

their own camper,

696

their own, whole, like, little crew,

you know, and we are traveling around,

697

from race to race,

which is like on the road.

698

You just have the, the team bus

and do mechanics and that's it.

699

But everyone is traveling

with their own small team,

700

you know, and and yeah,

701

you have to, to, to be nice for your team

702

or for your crew and, it's, it's

really a family thing, you know, you do.

703

You wake up in the morning,

you go to the race, and in the evening,

704

you're you're back

home, and you, you have dinner together,

705

and you discuss what, what, what when good

what what we need to improve.

706

And the next day we go again.

707

And it's,

it's really a nice, a nice family thing.

708

So having

709

multiple guys on your team with their own

individual mini team explained to me

710

teamwork in cyclocross,

because on the road it's it's paramount.

711

Right.

712

But if you're is it just that you guys

have the same jersey on and the same

713

bicycle sponsor, or are you guys actually

helping each other in, in a race?

714

It's

715

of course it's difficult,

more different than on the road,

716

but I would describe it the best as,

717

we not going to ride against each other

718

more than we can help each other,

if that makes sense.

719

You know, it's it's almost impossible

to come into the race with a race plan.

720

We're not doing this. It's.

721

This is not the way cyclocross works.

722

But for sure when when your teammate

is in the front and,

723

you're in the group behind,

you're not going to catch him back.

724

With a rival in your in your wheel.

725

You know, you're not bringing anyone.

726

Anyone, to the front.

727

Just like this.

728

Yeah, it's it's more like

729

not working against each other then.

730

Then making a plan and then

and then doing something like this.

731

And,

just for for me as a nonprofessional.

732

Yeah. What what key are use in a moment?

733

It seems like it's a chain ring in a front

because nobody uses double chain

734

ring anymore.

735

I think Shimano is still,

the guys on Shimano

736

still, ride double chain rings I think

Mathieu is still riding double as well.

737

Okay, so you got one chain ring

and then how is your cassette

738

11 to 35 or how is it

depends on the course.

739

I'm most of the time,

I'm riding, 46 in a front

740

and then in the back it's, 1033 or 1036.

741

I think most of the time is 33.

742

But the race on open

that if, for example,

743

then we go, we need to

we really need to go for a smaller gear.

744

You're kind of following in the footsteps

of riders like Tom Pidcock, Mathieu

745

van der Poel that have trans transferred

746

to the road and quite successful,

747

in the road as well as cyclocross.

748

Do you

think any time in the immediate future

749

that you will make that decision

to concentrate a little bit

750

more on the road,

or is this just so in your blood,

751

so engrained in you from your your father,

from your family, from your country,

752

that this is always going to be a part

of what makes you happy.

753

I think I can be clear on that, that it's

always going to be a part for sure.

754

The way I will feel in this season

with the amount of races

755

in maybe five years,

that's that's something I cannot predict.

756

The difference also,

757

Matthieu and Wout,

they won everything they, they gained

758

or there is to win in cyclocross already

material is a six time world champion.

759

They won all the classifications.

760

They got national champion,

European champion.

761

So when you're at this point

you can also make the,

762

transition a bit easier in the head

to, to focus on something else.

763

When everything is achieved.

764

And for I think, let's say Tom Pidcock,

765

of course he's been world

champion as well in cyclocross,

766

but this is less of a culture thing

than, than what I have.

767

I mean, I grew up going to those races

week after week seeing my dad.

768

Racing and winning and,

769

the connection with the fans

and everything.

770

And this is something that,

that I would love to, to to feel as well.

771

Like, like he always did.

772

And now that's,

773

that's kind of the way I see it

in, in the next couple of years to,

774

to relieve this feeling

of having the fans, really close to you.

775

And you can you could

you have the power to to,

776

to entertain them in the race? Yeah.

777

And how is it with the Belgium fans?

778

Yeah.

779

Close to the to the course,

of course, in a cycle cross race.

780

At a fair to everyone.

781

The cheer on the French. Right.

782

The cheer on Tom Pidcock to cheer on you

783

or you're going to be a crowd favorite

because your your Belgium

784

and or when you race in Holland

are the booing on you.

785

They go, yeah, go meet you and boo at you.

786

How how is that

how well do I have to understand?

787

That was defense in cyclocross,

I think, to describe it the best.

788

I think you need to see cyclocross

as, like, a TV soap, like a drama.

789

You know, week from week,

there is another episode, you know,

790

and we go, oh, yeah,

the season is started.

791

And, every, every week

you get another episode.

792

And it really depends on how the riders

793

are, reacting.

794

They're reacting in the interviews,

reacting towards, the other riders,

795

doing a bit of thrash dog

doing a bit of this and that.

796

And this is where the sport really used

to live from in a couple of years ago,

797

you know, I don't know

if you saw the first race last weekend,

798

but there was a big

a big thing about Eli Iserbyt

799

breaking the wheel of, of another rider

just.

800

Oh, yeah.

801

Jumping full guys on the wheel.

802

And it's something you don't do.

803

But this is what what cyclocross makes

what it makes big, you know?

804

And what people have

something to talk about. And,

805

and they will carry it with them

in the next couple of races.

806

So I'm sure, I'm not sure you will have

807

a nice time, riding next to the fans

next, next week.

808

And this is what makes it all interesting.

809

It it all depends on how you how you treat

the fans, how you speak in the media.

810

It's such a different thing than than

just the road to racing.

811

It's it's.

812

Yeah, it's, a national, TV drama,

you know what I mean?

813

Like, yeah,

814

it's a bit exaggerated, but you know what

I, what I'm saying, you know.

815

Yeah, yeah, yeah,

yeah, yeah, of course, 100%.

816

And you've said so many, it's very,

very intelligent.

817

Maybe even beyond your years things here.

818

And you're representing the new generation

very well

819

because it seems like these guys have it

figured out a lot earlier than we did.

820

Yeah.

821

But you know, you grew up

822

with from a very young age

with a superstar dad.

823

And we're seeing more and more of riders

of my generation, next generation,

824

having kids that are now successful

coming into the world tour, coming into,

825

you know, the Olympics, the World

Championships, the women's peloton.

826

What bit of advice

would you have for those young kids

827

who have a famous dad or a famous mom to

828

transition in,

829

in the sport and then still keep it

as real as you're keeping it?

830

Well, I would say just,

831

follow your own path.

832

It's maybe a bit of,

a cliché answer, but,

833

just make it your own thing

and don't try to copy.

834

I also never really felt

835

the pressure of the outside of the fence

of the of the media, of the people who,

836

would think it needs

837

to, to be like his dad or

he needs to win this in this in this race.

838

I always only feel the pressure

I have from myself and,

839

I think it's really important

to write my own,

840

book my own story, you know,

841

and I'm never focused on.

842

Okay, my dad has done this, so

I also, I have to do this or I don't know.

843

No, I.

844

Yeah.

845

Yeah.

846

You also never teach me how to do things.

847

See, he left his way and

848

and he let me see how it's going.

849

You know, how it should be.

850

And,

851

I think I can say I took the.

852

Of course, it's a lot of positive

and negative sides about,

853

having a really famous dad or,

with a with a big, big career.

854

But and I just try to take

the positive points from it

855

and leave the negative side.

856

I think that's a really great point of,

looking at it.

857

I think something similar.

858

Axel Merckx once said to the press look,

I know who my dad is, but, hey,

859

we all know I.

860

There's

no way I'm going to have his talent.

861

So please, they

862

give me a chance to follow my own path,

you know, don't judge me with my dad.

863

Something similar.

864

Like you said.

865

That's a nice a nice approach. There. So.

866

But that's also something really typical

about the Belgian,

867

media, the Belgian fans,

you know, they can

868

they can hold you on their hands

for, for two weeks, and then they break

869

you down completely to the ground

if the next race is shit and,

870

I always

have the feeling there is like a saying.

871

I don't really know exactly how it went.

872

It's about, if my critics, saw me

873

walking over water, they would say it was

because I couldn't swim, you know?

874

And this is a big, it's going

I mean, good.

875

For example, Remco Evenepoel

had a crazy season podium at the tour,

876

double Olympic champion,

a world champion. TT.

877

What more do you want?

878

And then there will be people saying,

yeah, but, you don't win the tour.

879

You cannot beat Pogacar.

880

Come on, man, be happy with with what

a crazy talent we have.

881

And,

882

if I win

883

31 cyclocross series is a races next year,

884

they will say, yeah,

but Mathieu Van der Poel won 33 or 34.

885

Yeah,

I don't need to beat this guy who wins.

886

Everything.

887

I just, enjoy what what

888

I'm bringing to the, to the races,

to the people, to the fans.

889

And, I'm.

890

I'm just doing my thing. Yeah.

891

So, what

892

are your goals for the cyclocross

race season this year?

893

Koppenbergcross again?

894

Or maybe the World Championships

if you get selected.

895

Well, or what's your goals?

896

The first really big goal

is just to find my top shape again.

897

I had really, really big goals,

898

ambitions and motivation

to come into the cyclocross season.

899

I really saw it.

900

That's this is going to be

my breakthrough year in cyclocross.

901

But then with the illness,

it took me back,

902

in my preparation.

903

And for the moment, I'm I'm not focused on

I want to be good in this or that race.

904

I just I'm just getting focused

on, being 100% again.

905

And if it's in two weeks, it's nice.

906

It's super nice.

907

And if it's in four weeks, it's also fine.

908

I don't want to be riding at 85%

for the whole season

909

if I, want to.

910

Do not want to overdo it now, you know?

911

So, I just try to give it my time

and try to,

912

approach it

the same way as I did before Poland.

913

But which is a bit more difficult now

914

because I have some,

some things to do a year, some sponsor.

915

Things over that in that race.

916

They want me there.

917

So it's really difficult to gain shape

once you start for a cyclocross race.

918

But that's the first big thing, you know,

getting myself at home percent again.

919

And then I want to win as much races

as possible.

920

Be consistent then,

and try to grab a jersey.

921

Yeah,

922

well, most of the

923

peloton, not yourself,

are in what we call the the off season.

924

And you obviously have quite a bit

going on.

925

You got a successful road career,

a successful cyclocross career.

926

During those breaks

that you talked about,

927

what what do you do just to relax?

928

Because it seems like, man,

you're going all the time.

929

Yeah. I don't have a lot of time.

930

I think the first break

will be after World Championships.

931

Cyclocross in 25.

932

And I will have, a short ski.

933

4 or 5 days, because I will only have

934

like, ten days of rest,

maybe a little bit less even.

935

Because I want to be good in Fleche

and I want to be good in all those races.

936

So it's more of, not really.

937

I never really have,

like an off season part.

938

It's like a week of rest over here.

939

One week of rest over there, then.

940

Then ten days over there.

941

You just work in those micro cyclists,

you know?

942

And, in this way,

943

your body really never really gets

completely exhausted,

944

or you have the feeling like, damn,

I'm completely, completely out.

945

And on the other hand, it

946

don't take a lot of time

and effort to regain this shape

947

because, you don't drop it as low

as as when you go into,

948

for a week off season.

949

So it that's also another thing

so different.

950

And, back in the old days,

we had one long road season,

951

one long offseason

and a long road season again.

952

Are you sometimes nervous

that you don't get enough rest

953

when you have ten days after the cross,

maybe ten days after the spring classics,

954

maybe ten days after the first Grand Tour.

955

But, do you feel

sometimes it's not enough for my mind,

956

and my body to refresh?

957

I didn't have the feeling yet

that it's not enough for my body,

958

and especially not for my mind.

959

As long as I keep riding

well and everything.

960

And I'm having fun, I never, ever

had the feeling I need some mental rest.

961

Never.

962

Because I'm doing what

I love the most. I'm.

963

I have the feeling

I'm not missing out on something.

964

On on drinking and having parties

and eating and everything like this.

965

I'm just.

966

This is what I love to do the most.

967

So I don't have the feeling that in

my week off or two weeks off, I need to,

968

to get back something

969

or two to, to get back some.

970

How do you say it? Like,

971

yeah, you know what I mean?

972

Like that

I had to catch up to catch some light.

973

Yeah, yeah, I need to catch up something

because I miss something.

974

That's that's.

975

I almost never have this feeling.

976

And I think that's the proof

977

where we are going the right way.

978

Well, it's proof,

because the young generation,

979

a lot of them have your attitude,

980

and you guys are wiping up the results

and doing doing what it takes.

981

And, my hat goes off to you

because, yeah, our generation

982

was a little bit different, but Thibau

thank you so much for your time today.

983

We really appreciate

it was a fantastic talk

984

and I'm just super impressed with you

not only as a cyclist,

985

but as a man, as a human being,

because some of the things that you said

986

were were fantastic.

987

So thank you so much for coming on the Odd

Tandem today, I appreciate it.

988

Thank you so much for having me.

989

Well, that's everything for this week.

990

Now, please remember to follow us

and or tandem on TikTok,

991

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

and wherever you get your podcasts.

992

Thanks to Thibau for joining the podcast.

993

Also remember, if you want to see

the video version of this podcast,

994

it's up on our YouTube channel right now

youtube.com/oddtandem.

995

Just head to our Patreon

where you can sign up for

996

$5 a month and keep this podcast going.

997

That's patreon.com/OddTandem

998

And remember, if you want your question

in our next mailbag episode,

999

make sure you keep sending us your

questions to OddTandem@Shockedgiraffe.com

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