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November 1, 2023
X²O Badkamers Trophy 2024 🇧🇪 – Trofee Oudenaarde – Koppenbergcross Oudenaarde, Belgium
The X²O Badkamers Trofee is one of four major, season-long cyclocross series. With its first edition dating back to 1987 it’s the second-oldest of Europe’s series.
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November 1, 2023
X²O Badkamers Trophy 2024 🇧🇪 – Trofee Oudenaarde – Koppenbergcross Oudenaarde, Belgium
The X²O Badkamers Trofee is one of four major, season-long cyclocross series. With its first edition dating back to 1987 it’s the second-oldest of Europe’s series. The X²O Badkamers Trofee is unique in the world of cyclocross, as unlike other series that award points after every race, the X²O Badkamers Trofee is effectively a season-long stage race, with the overall winner being the fastest over all of the eight races across the season. That’s not always been the case though, prior to switching over to this new system in the 2012/13 season the series ran on points, just like the other series. If a rider misses or does not finish at a round, it’s still technically possible for them to win as ‘non-finishers’. Lapped riders and non-starters are given the winner’s time, plus 5 minutes. Miss too many rounds, however, and these 5 minute-long deficits soon add up and create an insurmountable gap. For that reason, this is a series that riders often compete in throughout the season, rather than picking and choosing individual rounds. Riders at the X²O Badkamers Trofee are encouraged to have a fast start, not only because it will give them an advantage in the race, but the ‘Quick Start’ classification means that the first rider across the start/finish line after the first lap gets a 15-second bonus for their final overall time, with 10 seconds and 5 seconds going to second and third across the line, respectively. These time bonuses could prove to be vital in the outcome of the overall standings, especially if this year’s series is closely contested.
Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) powered to victory solo at the Koppenbergcross after taking the lead on the opening lap and holding off the chase from teammate Lars van der Haar and Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
Rain and previous races in the day made the notoriously tough course even harder and turned it into a complete mud bath, but the 20-year-old looked experienced beyond his age as he navigated the treacherous conditions and took his third elite-level win.
Cyclocross legend and Nys’ father Sven Nys has the record for wins at the Koppenbergcross with nine and last took victory on the iconic course in 2012, 11 years prior to his son achieving the feat to similar roars from the Belgian crowd.
Thibau Nys pointed to his father and signalled ten for the Nys family on his hands as he crossed the finish line.
“I have rarely experienced a race like that,” Nys said. “It was such a slow cross that really drained you completely. Then you have time to think because you are only concerned with yourself, with finding your pace. You’re not busy with anything else. That’s a strange feeling, especially when you’re riding around all alone.”
Nys also spoke of his celebration and following in his father’s footsteps at the Koppenbergcross, but didn’t want to get ahead of himself with the European Championships approaching quickly.
“It is unbelievable. We’ve been talking about this for a long time. To top it off like this… We finally have ten,” said Nys. “I just want to enjoy this now. The season is already incredible. I don’t care if I lose on Sunday [at the European Championships]. I’ll just go all in and see where it ends.”
Nys didn’t have the ideal start as the pack hit the iconic Koppenberg for the first time as his wheel slipped and became slightly tangled with teammate Pim Ronhaar, but the duo quickly recovered and found themselves in the top three behind Lander Loockx (TDT-Unibet).
Loockx capitalised on the running sections of the course to gain a small lead before Nys decided enough was enough and dived up the inside of a corner to take the lead from his Belgian compatriot.
The riders fought for rare patches of grass on the mud-ridden course, with most forced to run more than they were used to and the race reduced to only five laps due to the slow lap time.
Ronhaar slipped away due to small mistakes as he came close to a complete slide out then put his foot through a netted barrier, signalling the end of his time close to the front. Nys also hit the deck once as he tried to carry as much speed as possible through each corner, but thankfully he did no damage to himself or the bike.
Behind the leader, Iserbyt had only Van der Haar now for company on the final lap, but his Belgian team claimed he wasn’t having his best day. The pair would fight right to the line up the Koppenberg, but Van der Haar had the better kick at the end of the arduous hour of racing.
Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) took a brilliant fourth place behind and continued what has been a great 2023-24 season so far ahead of European Champion Michael Vanthourenhout. This was his last appearance in the jersey ahead of his title defence this weekend in Pontchâteau.
Nys will be the favourite going into the men’s race this Sunday, with an eye on his first elite-level jersey. Iserbyt, Van der Haar and Vanthourenhout are likely to be his key competitors in France.
Results :
 powered to victory solo at the Koppenbergcross after taking the lead on the opening lap and holding off the chase from teammate Lars van der Haar and Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
Rain and previous races in the day made the notoriously tough course even harder and turned it into a complete mud bath, but the 20-year-old looked experienced beyond his age as he navigated the treacherous conditions and took his third elite-level win.
Cyclocross legend and Nys’ father Sven Nys has the record for wins at the Koppenbergcross with nine and last took victory on the iconic course in 2012, 11 years prior to his son achieving the feat to similar roars from the Belgian crowd.
Thibau Nys pointed to his father and signalled ten for the Nys family on his hands as he crossed the finish line.
“I have rarely experienced a race like that,” Nys said. “It was such a slow cross that really drained you completely. Then you have time to think because you are only concerned with yourself, with finding your pace. You're not busy with anything else. That's a strange feeling, especially when you're riding around all alone.”
Nys also spoke of his celebration and following in his father’s footsteps at the Koppenbergcross, but didn’t want to get ahead of himself with the European Championships approaching quickly.
"It is unbelievable. We've been talking about this for a long time. To top it off like this... We finally have ten," said Nys. “I just want to enjoy this now. The season is already incredible. I don't care if I lose on Sunday [at the European Championships]. I'll just go all in and see where it ends.”
Nys didn’t have the ideal start as the pack hit the iconic Koppenberg for the first time as his wheel slipped and became slightly tangled with teammate Pim Ronhaar, but the duo quickly recovered and found themselves in the top three behind Lander Loockx (TDT-Unibet).
Loockx capitalised on the running sections of the course to gain a small lead before Nys decided enough was enough and dived up the inside of a corner to take the lead from his Belgian compatriot.
The riders fought for rare patches of grass on the mud-ridden course, with most forced to run more than they were used to and the race reduced to only five laps due to the slow lap time.
Ronhaar slipped away due to small mistakes as he came close to a complete slide out then put his foot through a netted barrier, signalling the end of his time close to the front. Nys also hit the deck once as he tried to carry as much speed as possible through each corner, but thankfully he did no damage to himself or the bike.
Behind the leader, Iserbyt had only Van der Haar now for company on the final lap, but his Belgian team claimed he wasn’t having his best day. The pair would fight right to the line up the Koppenberg, but Van der Haar had the better kick at the end of the arduous hour of racing.
Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) took a brilliant fourth place behind and continued what has been a great 2023-24 season so far ahead of European Champion Michael Vanthourenhout. This was his last appearance in the jersey ahead of his title defence this weekend in Pontchâteau.
Nys will be the favourite going into the men’s race this Sunday, with an eye on his first elite-level jersey. Iserbyt, Van der Haar and Vanthourenhout are likely to be his key competitors in France.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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