35-year-old proves that there’s life in the old dog yet with yet another double-winning weekend
Sven Nys (Landbouwkrediet) continues to defy those that would write him off in the Belgian media. The 35-year-old Kannibaal van Baal has been dominating the sport of cyclocross for virtually the entire current century, and, while he is a little less unbeatable than he was a few years ago, he has picked up eight victories so far this season and has rarely been off the podium.
The two victories of the weekend – in the Fidea Scheldecross in Antwerp, and the Druivenveldrit in Overijse – should also see Nys take back the World number one spot from Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor), who has become his main rival of the season.
"Am I worn out? Far from it, eh," he quipped to the post race press conference, according to Het Nieuwsblad. "I now have four years evidence to the contrary."
While both of Nys’ weekend wins were fashioned in his usual dominant style, with late accelerations that none of his rivals was able to follow, the absence of a number of stars from the race might cause some to question the quality of the results.
World champion Zdenek Stybar (Quick Step) spent the weekend in Mallorca, where he is recharging his batteries after a long road season; Nys’ former fierce rival Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea) also sat out the two races with a dip in form that he is putting down to illness; while Belgian champion – and heir-elect to Nys’ throne – Niels Albert (BKCP-Powerplus) has put off his return to racing for another week, having sustained a broken wrist after being hit by a car in training.
"It doesn’t affect my victories,” said Nys defiantly. "In about ten years the public won’t remember who was second in Overijse, or who did not participate; that makes no difference to me. Every year there are guys who [miss races], albeit sometimes due to circumstances beyond their control.
“I think that the absentees are wrong,” he added, “because races like Overijse look good on your palmares. These races are not part of a series [the World Cup, Gazet van Antwerpen (GvA) Trofee, or Superprestige – ed], but that makes no difference to me. I always want to win."
The winter has been late in coming to Belgium, with many races taking place on fast, dry courses, where they would normally be muddy quagmires. These races, where the pack can stay together for long periods and appear like off-road criteriums, don’t suit Nys nearly so much as the mudfests; where he can apply his strength, use his experience and show off his superior handling skills.
Finally though, the rain appears to have begun to arrive, with much of the Overijse course turned to sticky ruts; the tough nature of the wooded sections also forced riders to shoulder their bikes regularly.
“I think the conditions, including the weather, are now more in my favour,” Nys reasoned. “The previous races were very fast and more suited to Kevin; now there is more cross.
“For example, in Gavere [on November 20th, where he was a lowly fifth – ed] we hardly had to get off our bikes,” he explained. “I come into my own better in races that are physically more demanding, such as a course like Overijse. I like that, it is varied, technically more difficult than Igorre last week. Overijse never lies; it is a race where the strongest wins, and that was me today.”
With so many fast races, and so little mud, so far this season, Nys can be happy with his haul of eight wins so far. At 35 years old, Nys is eight years older than Pauwels, and almost ten years older than Albert. In his season so far though, he has consistently proven wrong those who would write him off.
"I am very satisfied,” he said. “I won a few races that don’t really suit me, and I'm happy with that. With those eight victories, I have already proven that I am not worn out. It’s been predicted for four years that I am on the way out, but every year I prove the contrary; that is pleasing.”
His experience, says Nys, is what can make the difference on the toughest races of the season.
“Look, a cross like Overijse makes me feel good,’ he continued. “My start was perhaps a little too quiet, but I was mostly afraid of blowing myself up. Once I found the right rhythm, I went full on. Overijse is a race where experience plays a role. You have to dose your strength. If you're older, you know where to accelerate, and you're still fresh enough at the end to throw a bomb.
“At the end of the race I had the perfect feeling on the bike and that gives me great confidence for the coming weeks."
The next rendezvous for Nys will be the GvA Trofee race in Essen, close to the border with the Netherlands, on Saturday; followed by the Namur World Cup in the south of Belgium. While the Kannibaal’s form is expected to continue, Stybar, Wellens and Albert will all be making their returns, and Pauwels will hope to be back to his best.