Thibau Nys wins second elite title as Belgium dominates

Thibau Nys secured his second elite men’s title at the 2026 UEC Cyclo-cross European Championships held in Zeddam, Netherlands, on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Nys outpaced his fellow Belgian Joran Wyseure on the final lap of the challenging course, finishing seven seconds ahead. Nys's victory contributed to a clean sweep for Belgium, with Niels Vandeputte taking the bronze medal after a sprint finish with a four-rider chase group.

The competition featured 34 riders, with Belgium fielding the largest team of eight, while the Netherlands had five participants. The early laps saw Belgium and the Netherlands engage in a tactical battle, each team trying to force the other to expend energy on the slippery terrain.

Nys initiated his decisive attack on an off-camber section leading into a set of stairs. Kevin Kuhn from Switzerland quickly responded, along with Wyseure following closely behind. With three laps remaining, Nys and Wyseure broke away from the pack. Nys ultimately surged ahead, leveraging a strong acceleration on the stairs to maintain his lead to the finish.

"It was a tough race. I felt it would come down to a big explosion in the last lap," said Nys in reflections on the race. He acknowledged the difficulty of the course and the challenge of creating a gap from competitors.

Zeddam previously hosted the 2006 Cyclocross World Championships, showcasing a course that includes a new staircase with 99 steps and a 60-meter rider bridge alongside the Grafelijke Korenmolen, the Netherlands' oldest operational windmill. Nys finished the race in 59 minutes and 37 seconds, securing a significant victory for himself and leading an all-Belgian podium placement.

The results were as follows:

1. Thibau Nys (Bel) - 0:59:37
2. Joran Wyseure (Bel) - 0:59:44
3. Niels Vandeputte (Bel) - 0:59:56
4. Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ned) - 0:59:57
5. Kevin Kuhn (Swi) - 0:59:57
6. Cameron Mason (GBr) - 0:59:59
7. Felipe Orts Lloret (Spa) - 1:00:26
8. Jente Michels (Bel) - 1:00:32
9. Ryan Kamp (Ned) - 1:00:34
10. Romain Debord (Fra) - 1:00:44
11. Thomas Mein (GBr) - 1:01:07

Nys expressed his dedication to future races, recognizing the importance of each competition as he looks to continue his successful season.