Gone to soon: Triathlon legend died in a hospital minutes ago due to automobile accident….

Race after race, Thibau Nys is confirming his style, an almost unique mix of strength and talent. Few in the peloton can boast his explosiveness, timing and strength in races that end with a short kick. Today, in the first stage of the Tour de Pologne, the young Belgian proved it again, crossing the finish line alone after a sprint that proved impossible for the peloton to match.

Everything happened on the final, decisive kick. A couple of attempts broke the balance in the last five kilometers, but it was Thibau’s move that made the difference with about 300 meters to go. “It was a long sprint, but I didn’t want to take any risks,” he explained. His attack left no room for response by Kelderman (Visma) and Nerurkar (EF), who finished second and third at 3″. At 6″ was the group of the GC contenders, led by Vingegaard (Visma).

Nys will start tomorrow (15km uphill TT) with the leader’s jersey, but by his own admission, with these small gaps, it will be hard to keep it. “I believe that in the future I can compete for the GC in races like the Tour de Pologne, but it’s not time yet,” he said.

“I think I proved in the last couple of months how much this kind of finish suits me. I got more and more confident and now I know I can be among the most competitive riders in the peloton, at the moment, on days like this. I’ve learned what it takes to win on this finish, but this also brings a kind of nervousness because I know how hard it is to make it happen.

I’m really happy I made it today. If you had told me I would take a win in every stage race I started, I would have laughed. It’s like a dream. I’m really proud about this because it’s the result of constant effort, hard work and a strong mindset. Without this and the support of Lidl-Trek, on and off the bike, this would not have happened.

I’m convinced that these are the kind of the races I have to focus more on in the future and, of course, try to keep growing to be among the best in the world. That’s my goal, my motivation. Step by step, day by day, that’s what I want in my future.”