Thibau Nys wins Koppenbergcross after two crashes

Belgian cyclocross champion Thibau Nys secured his third victory at the Koppenbergcross, marking a dramatic season debut. Despite suffering two crashes during the race, Nys managed to overcome a deficit of approximately 30 seconds to overtake Michael Vanthourenhout on the final ascent.

The race was marked by significant volatility. An initial crash involving Victor Van de Putte forced Nys to stop and adjust his handlebars, while a second slip required a bike change. Vanthourenhout held a lead for much of the race, but Nys closed the gap during the final laps to win by seven seconds.

In the women’s category, Lucinda Brand dominated the event to retain her title. In the U23 category, Aubin Sparfel claimed victory, finishing ahead of Giel Lejeune and Sil De Brauwere.

Following the win, Nys expressed that the race was “stressful,” noting that he felt he was losing control due to self-imposed pressure and technical errors. The victory also places Nys at the top of the X2O Badkamers Trofee standings.