'His bars have snapped' - How Thibau Nys suffered 'disaster' crash at UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Zondhoven
Published 04/01/2026 at 19:55 GMT
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Thibau Nys' handlebars snapped during a "disaster" crash at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Zondhoven. The Belgian was in second when he slipped on an icy corner, sending him over the barriers on the side of the course, while his bike collided with a wooden post. Nys was forced to ride with the damaged bike for four minutes, and it proved costly, with the 23-year-old finishing the race in 19th.
Nys snaps handlebar in 'disaster' crash at Zondhoven - 'Got to feel for him'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Thibau Nys suffered a "disaster" crash during the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Zondhoven, with his handlebars snapping after he slipped on the icy surface.Â
The 23-year-old was in second in Sunday’s race, looking to close the gap on Mathieu van der Poel, but lost control of his bike on an icy corner and fell over the barriers on the side of the course.
The Belgian’s handlebars snapped in the process as they collided with one of the wooden posts holding the barriers in place.
He was forced to cycle with the damage for some time before reaching the pits, and could only run with his bike down the famous Kuil sandpit.Â
Speaking afterwards, Nys told Sporza: "On a section where the speed was really high, it was just ice. I couldn't correct it.Â
"When I crashed and assessed the damage, I felt I was fine. But of course, that crash ruined my entire race. I was just getting going and riding well."
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Highlights: Van der Poel records NINTH consecutive win, Nys suffers crash
Video credit: TNT Sports
Nys reached the pits four minutes after his crash to change his bike, and this proved costly, with the Belgian ultimately finishing the race in 19th.Â
He had been just 19 seconds down on Van der Poel on the fourth lap of Sunday's eight-lap race before his crash.
But he finished over three minutes behind the world champion, who went on to claim his ninth consecutive victory, continuing his unbeaten Cyclo-cross season.
It was not a straightforward race for Van der Poel, suffering front and rear punctures, but he held on for victory to go to the top of the standings.
Despite his crash, Nys remains second overall, having overtaken Laurens Sweek, who was not racing in Zondhoven.
Commentating on the incident, the TNT Sports team said: "His bars have snapped. What a disaster for Thibau Nys.
"He’s another rider you just wish the luck would fall for in these races; he's had so much bad luck this season.
"It’s the same corner Van der Poel nearly lost it on down into that icy, icy corner."
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They added: "You’ve just got to feel for him because he's had so many positions where he's had that challenge, and he knows his possibility for victory today has gone.Â
"It didn't even look like he'd got to the braking point, it just looked like one of those icy edges, that really shiny ice that these riders are riding on.
"It’s kind of formed a lip, it drops down into the snow off the racing line, that front wheel just caught the edge of that icy line and quickly got out of control.
"That bike slammed into one of those wooden stakes, and his bars have come apart.
"These wooden stakes on the course do not move, and that shows with that impact just how they don’t move, but you really feel for him because he was really mounting that challenge there."
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