Sven Nys

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sven Nys
SvenNys.JPG
Personal information
Full nameSven Nys
NicknameThe Cannibal from Baal
(in Dutch) De Kannibaal van Baal
(in Dutch) "De Svekke, De Svenne, "ieeee de Svenne"
Born (1976-06-17) 17 June 1976 (age 45)
Bonheiden, Belgium
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Team information
Current teamBaloise Trek Lions
DisciplinesCyclo-cross
Mountain bike
Road
RoleRider (retired)
Team manager
Amateur team
2014–2016Crelan–AA Drink
Professional teams
1998–2008Rabobank
2008–2013Landbouwkrediet–Tönissteiner
Managerial team
2016–Telenet–Fidea Lions
Major wins
Cyclo-cross
World Cup
Overall standings (2000, 2002, –2007, 2009)
50 individual races
Superprestige
Overall standings (1999–2000, 2002–2003, 2005–2009, 20112014)
55 individual races
bPost Bank Trophy
Overall standings (2003, 2005–2011, 2014)
42 individual races
World Championships (2005, 2013)
National Championships (2000, 2003, 2005–2006, 2008–2010, 2012, 2014)
Mountain biking
National Championships (2005, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Medal record

Sven Nys (Dutch: [ˌsfɛn ˈnɛis]; born 17 June 1976) is a former professional cyclist competing in cyclo-cross and mountain bike. With two world championships, seven world cups, and over 140 competitive victories, he is considered one of the best cyclo-cross racers of his generation, and remains a prominent figure in cyclo-cross. Apart from cyclo-cross, Nys is also fivefold national mountainbike champion, and has competed in that discipline in two Olympic games.

Career overview[]

Early years[]

Born in Bonheiden, Belgium, Nys began racing BMX at the age of 8. He won eight BMX national titles before switching to cyclocross, a more popular sport in Belgium. He won the under-23 world championship in 1997 and 1998, beating another Belgian, Bart Wellens. Nys moved to the elite category in 1998–1999, joining the Dutch Rabobank team.

Becoming elite[]

In the elite class he won the Superprestige competition and came third in the national championships. The next season, he won the Superprestige again, ended the World Cup as leader and became Belgian champion. This made him favourite for the 2000 world championship. But his Rabobank management told him not to beat his teammate, the Dutchman Richard Groenendaal.[1][2] Groenendaal sprinted away from the start and Nys was forced to hold back and not help another Belgian, Mario De Clercq, chase him. Groenendaal won and Nys, who came third, was criticised in Belgium for choosing team over country.[3][4][5] The Royal Belgian Cycling League demanded an explanation. It became more forgiving but the head coach, Erik De Vlaeminck, remained unconvinced.[6][7]

Nys blamed an injury for not winning a season-long competition or championship in 2000–2001.[8] A year later he won the World Cup and the Superprestige again. In the world championships that year he came third after being outsprinted by De Clercq and Tom Vannoppen. The following season Nys won the Superprestige for the fourth time as well as the Gazet van Antwerpen trophy for a first time. He became Belgian champion again, but Wellens won the world championship and the World Cup.

Wellens dominated 2003–2004. Nys' chance for the World Cup ended when other Belgians sprinted past him, taking points.[9] Nys was angry that his countrymen had allowed Groenendaal, a Dutchman, to win the World Cup rather than him.[10] That evening Nys decided from then on to ride for himself.

This is war. Thanks Vannoppen, thanks Van der Linden. This is the last thing I have done for the Belgian team. They can all go to hell. [...] Apparently there are some who take joy out of me not winning the World Cup. I know who and will take that into account next year. National team coach Rudy De Bie told me that he has never seen anything like this before. Our country loses the World Cup today.

— Sven Nys, after the Pijnacker race,[10] translated from Dutch

The cannibal[]

Nys won everything of importance and at the end of 2004–2005 won the national and world championships, ended number one in the UCI rankings and World Cup, the Superprestige and the Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy. He is the only cyclo-crosser to achieve such dominance. Nys came close to repeating the feat the following season but he gave up in the world championship after a fall on the last lap.

Nys won all eight Superprestige races in 2006–2007. In the Superprestige he won 13 races from Hoogstraten in 2005 to Asper Gaver in 2007. That season he won the World Cup and the Gazet van Antwerpen trophy again, but neither the national or world championship. The national involved a lot of running, not Nys' talent, and were won by Wellens. At the world championship in Zeddam Nys fell three times: over Wellens, who fell because a television motor had hit one of the road markers; over Erwin Vervecken; and because of an error of his own. He finished 11th.

The following season, Nys won the World Cup, the Superprestige and the Gazet van Anterwerpen trophy again. He also won his fifth national championship. The Dutchman Lars Boom became champion of the world and Zdeněk Štybar took the silver, both barely 22 at the time. Nys, already nearing 32, came third.

Nys riding in the 2012 Kasteelcross Zonnebeke

Nys switched teams from Rabobank to Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner.[11] Niels Albert, 2008's U23 world champion, joined the elite category that season, giving Nys another opponent. But Nys won all the season-long competitions and the national championship. Albert won the world championship, Štybar was second and Nys third. The Belgian press referred to Albert, Štybar and Nys as De Grote Drie (The Big Three), it was clear that Nys' years of absolute domination were behind him.

In his second mountain bike race Nys won the Belgian championship and then came ninth at the Olympic Games in 2008. On 31 December 2006 Nys won his 150th race with the elites, at Diegem.[12][13] Four years later, he scored his 300th career win at the Koppenbergcross,[14][15] one of the toughest races in the season.

Nys was appointed as a member of the inaugural UCI Athletes' Commission in 2011.[16]

In 2013 Nys won the world championship a second time.[17] He said his career was now complete.[18]

On 10 February 2013, Nys won his 60th race in the Superprestige.[19]

On 22 November 2015, Nys won the Koksijde round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in Belgium, his fiftieth victory in the series. His win came seventeen years and a day after his first World Cup victory.[20]

Sven Nys called a halt to his career on 5–6 March 2016 at an event called "Merci Sven" which was held at the Antwerp Sportpaleis (Belgium).

Post cycling career[]

After ending his active cyclocross career Nys bought the cyclocross team Telenet–Fidea Lions of which he is the general manager.[21] He is also a motivational speaker, during his keynotes he shares information about his experiences during his cycling career.[22]

Major results[]

Cyclo-cross[]

1998–1999 (13)
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Sint-Michielsgestel
1st Gieten
1st
1st Wetzikon
1st in Tabor (WC)
1st Eeklo
1st Zonnebeke
1999–2000 (21)
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st Overall UCI World Cup
1st
1st Leudelange
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Gieten
1st Hoogstraten
1st Surhuisterveen
1st
1st Wetzikon
2000–2001 (7)
UCI World Cup
1st Zolder
1st Zeddam
Superprestige
1st Diegem
2001–2002 (10)
1st Overall World Cup
1st Monopoli
1st Wetzikon
1st Overall Superprestige
1st
1st Gieten
2002–2003 (17)
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st Overall UCI ranking
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Sint-Michielsgestel
1st Gieten
1st Hoogstraten
UCI World Cup
1st Liévin
1st Hoogerheide
1st Overall GvA Trophy
2003–2004 (10)
UCI World Cup
1st Torino
1st
1st Wetzikon
Superprestige
1st Sint-Michielsgestel
1st Eeklo
2004–2005 (25)
1st Jersey rainbow.svg World Championships
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st UCI-ranking
1st Overall UCI World Cup
1st Wetzikon
1st Milano
1st Hofstade
1st Nommay
1st Hoogerheide
1st Lanarvilly
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st
1st Gieten
1st Vorselaar
1st Overall GvA Trophy
1st Overijse
2005–2006 (27)
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st UCI ranking
1st Overall UCI World Cup
1st Kalmthout
1st Tabor
1st Pijnacker
1st Wetzikon
1st Milano
1st Hofstade
1st Hooglede
1st Liévin
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Hamme-Zogge
1st
1st Vorselaar
1st Overall GvA Trophy
1st Eeklo
2006–2007 (28)
1st UCI ranking
1st Overall UCI World Cup
1st Aigle
1st Kalmthout
1st Pijnacker
1st Koksijde
1st Igorre
1st Nommay
1st Hoogerheide
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Sint-Michielsgestel
1st
1st Gieten
1st Hamme-Zogge
1st Diegem
1st Hoogstraten
1st Vorselaar
1st Overall GvA Trophy
1st Overijse
1st Eeklo
2007–2008 (21)
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st UCI ranking
UCI World Cup
1st Tabor
1st Koksijde
1st Igorre
1st Hofstade
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Hamme-Zogge
1st Gavere
1st Veghel
1st Diegem
1st Overall GvA Trophy
1st Oudenaarde
1st Hasselt
1st Essen
1st Baal
1st Neerpelt
1st Harderwijk
1st Dottignies
1st
1st Middelkerke
1st Otegem
1st Surhuisterveen
2008–2009 (18)
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st UCI ranking
1st Overall UCI World Cup
1st Kalmthout
1st Igorre
1st Milan
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Gavere
1st Hamme-Zogge
1st Overall GvA Trophy
1st Oudenaarde
1st Essen
1st Neerpelt
1st
1st Eernegem
1st Middelkerke
1st Maldegem
2009–2010 (15)
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
UCI World Cup
1st Kalmthout
Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Gieten
1st Zonhoven
1st Overall GvA Trophy
1st Oudenaarde
1st Loenhout
1st Baal
1st Lille
1st Woerden
1st Niel
1st Middelkerke
1st Zonnebeke
1st Lebbeke
1st Antwerpen
2010–2011 (14)
1st UCI ranking
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Gavere
1st Hamme-Zogge
1st Hoogstraten
GvA Trophy
1st Oudenaarde
1st Essen
1st Baal
1st Overijse
1st Neerpelt
1st Erpe-Mere
1st Ronse
1st Niel
1st Maldegem
1st Asteasu
1st
2011–2012 (17)
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
UCI World Cup
1st Plzeň
1st Koksijde
1st Namur
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Gieten
GvA Trophy
1st Baal
1st Antwerpen
1st Laarne
1st Leuven
1st Neerpelt
1st Niel
1st Overijse
1st Eeklo
2012–2013 (18)
1st Jersey rainbow.svg World Championships
World Cup
1st Koksijde
1st Roubaix
1st Heusden-Zolder
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Ruddervoorde
1st Zonhoven
1st Hamme-Zogge
1st Gavere
1st Hoogstraten
BPost Bank Trophy
1st Oudenaarde
1st Hasselt
1st Neerpelt
1st Kalmthout
1st Overijse
1st Sint-Niklaas
1st
1st Eeklo
1st
2013–2014
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st Overall Superprestige
1st Zonhoven
1st Gavere
1st Diegem
1st Hoogstraten
1st Overall bpost bank trophy
1st GP Mario De Clercq
1st Grand Prix van Hasselt
1st Azencross Loenhout
1st Baal
1st Krawatencross Lille
1st Vlaamse Druivencross
1st
1st Zonnebeke
1st Leuven
1st
2014–2015
1st
1st
BPost Bank Trophy
1st GP Mario De Clercq
2015–2016
UCI World Cup
1st Koksijde
1st Grand Prix van Hasselt

Major championship results[]

Nys at the 2007 Noordzeecross.
Season World National
1998–1999 POP
6
SOU
3
1999–2000 SMI
3
GEN
1
2000–2001 TAB
4
MOL
6
2001–2002 ZOL
3
KOK
7
2002–2003 MON
5
WIE
1
2003–2004 PCH
DNF
LIL
3
2004–2005 SAN
1
WAC
1
2005–2006 ZED
DNF
TER
1
2006–2007 HOO
11
HAM
3
2007–2008 TRE
3
HOF
1
2008–2009 HOO
3
RUD
1
2009–2010 TAB
3
OOS
1
2010–2011 SAN
2
ANT
DNF
2011–2012 KOK
7
HOO
1
2012–2013 LOU
1
MOL
2
2013–2014 HOO
2
WAR
1

UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup results[]

Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
SAF
1
TAB
2
LEU
1
KAL
2
ZED
2
NOM
6
1 300
BER
NP
TAB
5
LEU
20
ZOL
1
ZED
1
PON
18
6 179
MON
1
IGO
1
WOR
2
NOM
10
WET
1
HEE
6
1 282
FRA
3
KAL
5
LIÉ
1
WET
4
HOO
1
2 300
TOR
1
SWE
1
WET
1
KOK
5
NOM
7
PIJ
7
2 299
WOR
5
TAB
5
PIJ
1
KOK
2
WET
1
MIL
1
HOF
1
AIG
2
NOM
1
HOO
1
LAN
1
1 2940
KAL
1
TAB
1
PIJ
1
WET
1
MIL
1
IGO
8
HOF
1

1
LIE
1
HOO
8
1 2660
2006–2007 AIG
1
KAL
1
TAB
5
TRE
2
PIJ
1
KOK
1
IGO
1
MIL
2
HOF
5
NOM
1
HOO
1
1 3500
2007–2008 KAL
2
TAB
1
PIJ
5
KOK
1
IGO
1
MIL
NH
HOF
1
LIÉ
8
HOO
12
NR NR
2008–2009 KAL
1
TAB
4
PIJ
3
KOK
2
IGO
1
NOM
2
ZOL
6
ROU
3
MIL
1
1 620
2009–2010 TRE
DNF
PLZ
2
NOM
3
KOK
2
IGO
3
KAL
1
HEU
3
ROU
3
HOO
5
3 535
2010–2011 AIG
9
PLZ
5
KOK
3
IGO
3
KAL
2
HEU
5

3
HOO
3
3 484
2011–2012 PLZ
1
TAB
5
KOK
1
IGO
2
NAM
1
HEU
3

4
HOO
6
2 540
2012–2013 TAB
5
PLZ
6
KOK
1
ROU
1
NAM
2
HEU
1
ROM
20
HOO
4
3 506

[23][24][25]

NP: not participated
NH: not held
DNF: did not finish
NR: no ranking for individuals

Superprestige[]

Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
1995–1996 26th 7
1996–1997 11th 43
1997–1998 5th 87
1998–1999 1st 154
1999–2000 1st 284
2000–2001 6th 129
2001–2002 RUD
2
SMI
2
GAV
1
GIE
1
HOO
3
DIE
6
HAR
15
VOR
2
1st 177
2002–2003 RUD
1
SMI
1
GAV
4
GIE
1
DIE
2
HOO
1
HAR
1
VOR
2
1st 218
2003–2004 RUD
2
SMI
1
GAV
3
GIE
3
DIE
4
HOO
4
RAI
8
VOR
1
2nd 176
2004–2005 RUD
1
HAM
3
SMI
2
GAV
1
GIE
1
DIE
2
VOR
1
HOO
6
1st 111
2005–2006 RUD
2
SMI
2
HAM
1
GAV
1
GIE
2
DIE
2
HOO
1
VOR
1
1st 116
2006–2007 RUD
1
SMI
1
GAV
1
GIE
1
HAM
1
DIE
1
HOO
1
VOR
1
1st 150
2007–2008 RUD
1
HAM
1
GAV
1
GIE
2
VEG
1
DIE
1
HOO
5
VOR
7
1st 89
2008–2009 RUD
1
VEG
3
GAV
1
HAM
1
GIE
3
DIE
3
HOO
1
VOR
1
1st 114
2009–2010 RUD
1
HOO
3
GAV
2
HAM
2
GIE
1
DIE
DNF
ZON
1
VOR
4
3rd 98
2010–2011 RUD
3
ZON
3
HAM
1
GAV
1
GIE
4
DIE
2
HOO
1
MID
6
1st 107
2011–2012 RUD
4
ZON
2
HAM
3
GAV
5
GIE
1
DIE
3
HOO
3
MID
2
1st 105
2012–2013 RUD
1
ZON
1
HAM
1
GAV
1
GIE
2
DIE
7
HOO
1
MID
5
1st 109
2013–2014 RUD
2
ZON
1
HAM
2
GAV
1
DIE
1
HOO
1
MID
3
1st 101
2014–2015 GIE
3
ZON
2
RUD
4
GAV
3
SPA
8
DIE
16
HOO
6
MID
7
6th 79

[26]

BPost Bank Trophy[]

Up until the season 2011–2012, this competition was called the Gazet van Antwerpen Trophy (GvA).

Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
OUD
1
NIE
3
HAS
1
ESS
1
LOE
4
BAA
1
LIL
3
OOS 1st 241
2008–2009 OUD
1
NIE
3
HAS
5
ESS
1
LOE
2
BAA
1
LIL OOS

Mountain biking[]

2004–2005
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
2006–2007
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
1st Apeldoorn
1st Gieten
2008–2009
1st Averbode
2009–2010
1st Gooik
1st Sankt Vith
1st Geraardsbergen
1st Averbode
1st Belgian Cup
2010–2011
1st Boom
1st Geraardsbergen
1st Belgian Cup
2011–2012
1st Antwerp
1st Sankt Vith
1st Geraardsbergen
1st Belgian Cup
2012–2013
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
2013–2014
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships
2014–2015
1st MaillotBélgica.PNG National Championships

Road racing[]

References[]

  1. ^ "WK veldrijden: niet meer voor volk en vaderland" (in Dutch). Het Belang van Limburg. 28 January 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Jan Raas, Rabobank-manager: "Herschrijven jullie het Verdriet van België?"" (in Dutch). Het Belang van Limburg. 1 February 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  3. ^ "WK veldrijden: Wiens brood men eet..." (in Dutch). Het Belang van Limburg. 1 February 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Mario De Clercq: "Sven wil alleen zichzelf goedpraten"" (in Dutch). 1 February 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  5. ^ van den Bogaart, Ronnie (9 January 2008). "Het WK veldrijden van 2000" (in Dutch). Sportgeschiedenis.nl. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Goed gesprek tussen Nys en Bond" (in Dutch). Het Belang van Limburg. 10 February 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Sven Nys beging een jeugdzonde" (in Dutch). Het Belang van Limburg. 10 February 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  8. ^ Nys, Sven (2006). "De eerste Parijs-Roubaix". Ik, Sven Nys (in Dutch). Borgerhoff & Lamberigts. Op 15 oktober kon ik voor het eerst een normale training afwerken. Het crossseizoen was al een tijdje bezig. Ik had alle crossen geannuleerd en plande mijn debuut op 12 november in Asper-Gavere. [...] Voor de klassementen kwam ik waarschijnlijk niet meer in aanmerking, daar had ik al te veel crossen voor gemist.
  9. ^ "2004 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CUP – PIJNACKER (NED) 15.02.2004 : ELITE MEN". Union Cycliste Internationale. 15 February 2004. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Van Welden, Rik (16 February 2004). "Groenendaal pakt in extremis eindzege wereldbeker" (in Dutch). De Standaard. Retrieved 17 February 2013. ,,Het is oorlog, reageerde de anders zo kalme Nys na afloop uitzinnig van woede. ,,Bedankt Vannoppen, bedankt Van der Linden. Dit is het laatste dat ik voor de Belgische ploeg gedaan heb. Ze kunnen allemaal de boom in. [...] ,,Blijkbaar zijn er die er plezier in hebben dat ik de wereldbeker niet win, fulmineerde Nys. ,,Ik weet wie en ga daar volgend jaar rekening mee houden. Bondscoach Rudy De Bie zei tegen mij dat hij dit nog nooit eerder meemaakte. Ons land verliest vandaag de wereldbeker.
  11. ^ "Sven Nys verkast naar Landbouwkrediet" (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Sven Nys wint opnieuw in Superprestige" (in Dutch). Wieler Update. 31 December 2006. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  13. ^ "Teller Nys op 151" (in Dutch). NRC. 2 January 2007. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  14. ^ Timmermans, Niels (1 November 2010). "Grootse 300ste triomftocht voor Sven op de Koppenberg" (in Dutch). Nieuws Over Sven Nys. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  15. ^ "Nys wint Koppenbergcross voor de 8ste maal" (in Dutch). Sportuitslagen.org. 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  16. ^ Ryan, Barry (5 March 2015). "UCI Athletes' Commission holds first meeting in Aigle". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  17. ^ "Sven Nys rijdt naar zijn tweede wereldtitel" (in Dutch). Sporza. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  18. ^ "Sven Nys: "Mijn carrière is nu compleet"" (in Dutch). Sporza. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  19. ^ "Dagzege nummer 60 brengt Nys dicht bij twaalfde eindzege" (in Dutch). hansgrohe Superprestige Cyclocross. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  20. ^ "Cyclo-cross World Cup Koksijde: Sven Nys takes thrilling victory". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  21. ^ Bevestigd: Sven Nys is nieuwe eigenaar van Telenet-Fidea
  22. ^ "Sven Nys als spreker boeken". SportSpreker (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  23. ^ "World Cup – Elite Men – Summary Table". The-Sports.org. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  24. ^ "Results – Cyclo Cross". UCI. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  25. ^ "UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup". UCI Archives. UCI. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  26. ^ "Superprestige – Summary Table". The-Sports.org. Retrieved 18 July 2012.

External links[]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Roel Paulissen

2005
Succeeded by
Filip Meirhaeghe
Preceded by
Filip Meirhaeghe

2007
Succeeded by
Roel Paulissen
Preceded by
Kevin Pauwels

2013, 2014, 2015
Succeeded by
Ruben Scheire
Awards
Preceded by
Tom Boonen
Belgian Sports Personality of the Year
2006
Succeeded by
Justine Henin
Retrieved from ""