# Sven Nys

Sven Nys (Dutch:; 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. 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 heavily criticised in Belgium for choosing team over country. The Royal Belgian Cycling League demanded an explanation. It became more forgiving but the head coach, Erik De Vlaeminck, remained unconvinced.
Nys blamed an injury for not winning a season-long competition or championship in 2000–2001. 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. Nys was angry that his countrymen had allowed Groenendaal, a Dutchman, to win the World Cup rather than him. 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.

### 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 Hooglede-Gits 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 switched teams from Rabobank to Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner. 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. Four years later, he scored his 300th career win at the Koppenbergcross, one of the toughest races in the season.
Nys was appointed as a member of the inaugural UCI Athletes' Commission in 2011.
In 2013 Nys won the world championship a second time. He said his career was now complete.
On 10 February 2013, Nys won his 60th race in the Superprestige.
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.
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. He is also a motivational speaker, during his keynotes he shares information about his experiences during his cycling career.

## Major results
### Cyclo-cross
#### 1996–1997

    1st UCI World Under-23 Championships

#### 1997–1998

    1st UCI World Under-23 Championships

#### 1998–1999 (13)

    UCI World Cup
       1st Tábor
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Sint-Michielsgestel
       1st Gieten
       1st Sivelle
       1st Diegem
       1st Wetzikon
    1st Eeklo
    1st Zonnebeke

#### 1999–2000 (21)

    1st National Championships
    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Safenwill
       1st Leudelange
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Gieten
       1st Silvelle
       1st Hoogstraten
       1st Surhuisterveen
    Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Rijkevorsel
       1st Lille
    1st Wetzikon

#### 2000–2001 (6)

    UCI World Cup
       1st Heusden-Zolder
       1st Zeddam
    Superprestige
       1st Diegem
    Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Kalmthout
       1st Lille
    1st Loenhout

#### 2001–2002 (10)

    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Monopoli
       1st Igorre
       1st Wetzikon
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Gavere
       1st Gieten
    1st Fourmies
    1st Harderwijk
    1st Oudenaarde
    1st Tábor

#### 2002–2003 (17)

    1st National Championships
    UCI World Cup
       1st Liévin
       1st Hoogerheide
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Sint-Michielsgestel
       1st Gieten
       1st Hoogstraten
       1st Harnes
    1st Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Essen
       1st Loenhout
       1st Baal
    1st Dottignies
    1st Fourmies
    1st Hamme

#### 2003–2004 (10)

    UCI World Cup
       1st Torino
       1st Sankt-Wendel
       1st Wetzikon
    Superprestige
       1st Sint-Michielsgestel
       1st Vorselaar
    Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Baal
    1st Eeklo
    1st Hofstade
    1st Middelkerke

#### 2004–2005 (25)

    1st UCI World Championships
    1st National Championships
    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Pijnacker
       1st Wetzikon
       1st Milan
       1st Hofstade
       1st Nommay
       1st Hoogerheide
       1st Lanarvilly
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Gavere
       1st Gieten
       1st Vorselaar
    1st Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Loenhout
       1st Baal
       1st Lille
       1st Oostmalle
    1st Aalter
    1st Erpe-Mere
    1st Huijbergen
    1st Kalmthout
    1st Overijse
    1st Woerden

#### 2005–2006 (27)

    1st National Championships
    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Kalmthout
       1st Tábor
       1st Pijnacker
       1st Wetzikon
       1st Milan
       1st Hofstade
       1st Hooglede
       1st Liévin
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Hamme
       1st Gavere
       1st Vorselaar
    1st Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Niel
       1st Loenhout
       1st Lille
    1st Aalter
    1st Antwerpen
    1st Eeklo
    1st Harderwijk
    1st Hasselt
    1st Heerlen
    1st Koksijde
    1st Lebbeke
    1st Sint-Niklaas

#### 2006–2007 (28)

    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 Gavere
       1st Gieten
       1st Hamme
       1st Diegem
       1st Hoogstraten
       1st Vorselaar
    1st Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Essen
       1st Baal
       1st Lille
    1st Dottignies
    1st Eeklo
    1st Erpe-Mere
    1st Mechelen
    1st Overijse
    1st Sint-Niklaas
    1st Vossem
    1st Wachtebeke
    1st Zonhoven

#### 2007–2008 (21)

    1st National Championships
    UCI World Cup
       1st Tábor
       1st Koksijde
       1st Igorre
       1st Hofstade
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Hamme
       1st Gavere
       1st Veghel-Eerde
       1st Diegem
    1st Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Hasselt
       1st Essen
       1st Baal
    1st Neerpelt
    1st Harderwijk
    1st Dottignies
    1st Asteasu-Guipúzcoa
    1st Middelkerke
    1st Otegem
    1st Surhuisterveen

#### 2008–2009 (18)

    1st National Championships
    1st Overall UCI World Cup
       1st Kalmthout
       1st Igorre
       1st Milan
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Gavere
       1st Hamme
    1st Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Essen
    1st Neerpelt
    1st Dottenijs
    1st Eernegem
    1st Middelkerke
    1st Maldegem

#### 2009–2010 (15)

    1st National Championships
    UCI World Cup
       1st Kalmthout
    Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Gieten
       1st Zonhoven
    1st Overall Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Loenhout
       1st Baal
       1st Lille
    Fidea Classics
       1st Niel
    1st Woerden
    1st Middelkerke
    1st Zonnebeke
    1st Lebbeke
    1st Antwerpen

#### 2010–2011 (14)

    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Gavere
       1st Hamme
       1st Hoogstraten
    Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Essen
       1st Baal
    Fidea Classics
       1st Niel
       1st Neerpelt
    1st Overijse
    1st Erpe-Mere
    1st Ronse
    1st Maldegem
    1st Asteasu
    1st Lebbeke

#### 2011–2012 (17)

    1st National Championships
    UCI World Cup
       1st Plzeň
       1st Koksijde
       1st Namur
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Gieten
    Gazet van Antwerpen
       1st Baal
    Fidea Classics
       1st Neerpelt
       1st Niel
       1st Antwerpen
       1st Leuven
    1st Laarne
    1st Cauberg
    1st Eeklo
    1st Overijse

#### 2012–2013 (19)

    1st UCI World Championships
    UCI World Cup
       1st Koksijde
       1st Roubaix
       1st Heusden-Zolder
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Ruddervoorde
       1st Zonhoven
       1st Hamme
       1st Gavere
       1st Hoogstraten
    Bpost Bank Trophy
       1st Oudenaarde
       1st Hasselt
    Soudal Classics
       1st Neerpelt
    1st Kalmthout
    1st Overijse
    1st Sint-Niklaas
    1st Bredene
    1st Eeklo
    1st Lebbeke
    1st Mechelen

#### 2013–2014 (17)

    1st National Championships
    1st Overall Superprestige
       1st Zonhoven
       1st Gavere
       1st Diegem
       1st Hoogstraten
    1st Overall Bpost Bank Trophy
       1st Ronse
       1st Hasselt
       1st Loenhout
       1st Baal
       1st Lille
    Soudal Classics
       1st Leuven
       1st Niel
    1st Overijse
    1st Las Vegas
    1st Zonnebeke
    1st Lebbeke
    1st Mechelen

#### 2014–2015 (4)

    Bpost Bank Trophy
       1st Ronse
    Soudal Classics
       1st Neerpelt
       1st Niel
    1st Las Vegas

#### 2015–2016 (3)

    UCI World Cup
       1st Koksijde
    Soudal Classics
       1st Hasselt
       1st Mechelen

#### Major championship results

| 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 World Cup results

| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Points |
| 1998–1999 | ESC 2 | TAB 1 | LEU 4 | KOK 5 | ZED 9 | NOM 5 | | | | | | 3 | 177 |
| 1999–2000 | SAF 1 | TAB 2 | LEU 1 | KAL 2 | ZED 2 | NOM 6 | | | | | | 1 | 300 |
| 2000–2001 | BER — | TAB 5 | LEU 20 | ZOL 1 | ZED 1 | PON 18 | | | | | | 6 | 179 |
| 2001–2002 | MON 1 | IGO 1 | WOR 2 | NOM 10 | WET 1 | HEE 6 | | | | | | 1 | 282 |
| 2002–2003 | FRA 3 | KAL 5 | LIÉ 1 | WET 4 | HOO 1 | | | | | | | 2 | 300 |
| 2003–2004 | TOR 1 | SWE 1 | WET 1 | KOK 5 | NOM 7 | PIJ 7 | | | | | | 2 | 299 |
| 2004–2005 | WOR 5 | TAB 5 | PIJ 1 | KOK 2 | WET 1 | MIL 1 | HOF 1 | AIG 2 | NOM 1 | HOO 1 | LAN 1 | 1 | 2940 |
| 2005–2006 | KAL 1 | TAB 1 | PIJ 1 | WET 1 | MIL 1 | IGO 8 | HOF 1 | HGI 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 | ZOL 3 | ROU 3 | HOO 5 | | | 3 | 535 |
| 2010–2011 | AIG 9 | PLZ 5 | KOK 3 | IGO 3 | KAL 2 | ZOL 5 | PON 3 | HOO 3 | | | | 3 | 484 |
| 2011–2012 | PLZ 1 | TAB 5 | KOK 1 | IGO 2 | NAM 1 | ZOL 3 | LIÉ 4 | HOO 6 | | | | 2 | 540 |
| 2012–2013 | TAB 5 | PLZ 6 | KOK 1 | ROU 1 | NAM 2 | ZOL 1 | ROM 20 | HOO 4 | | | | 3 | 506 |
| 2013–2014 | VAL DNF | TAB 24 | KOK 4 | NAM 4 | ZOL 6 | ROM 3 | NOM — | | | | | 12 | 264 |
| 2014–2015 | VAL DNF | KOK 15 | MIL 8 | NAM — | ZOL — | HOO 6 | | | | | | 28 | 132 |
| 2015–2016 | LAS 2 | VAL 3 | KOK 1 | NAM 8 | ZOL 10 | LIG 7 | HOO 13 | | | | | 4 | 389 |

#### 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 | RUD — | GAV 10 | SMI 2 | GIE — | HOO 3 | OVE 3 | DIE 1 | HAR 3 | 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 |

#### 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 |
| 2007–2008 | 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 2 | OOS 1 | 1st | 276 |
| 2009–2010 | NAM 2 | OUD 1 | HAS 6 | ESS 2 | LOE 1 | BAA 1 | LIL 1 | OOS 6 | 1st | 188 |

### Mountain bike
#### 2004–2005

    1st National Championships

#### 2006–2007

    1st 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 National Championships

#### 2013–2014

    1st National Championships

#### 2014–2015

    1st National Championships

### Road
#### 2006

    8th Overall Tour of Belgium

#### 2007

    1st Internationale Wielertrofee Jong Maar Moedig

#### 2008

    10th Omloop der Kempen

#### 2011

    9th Internationale Wielertrofee Jong Maar Moedig

#### 2012

    5th Circuit de Wallonie

#### 2014

    6th Internationale Wielertrofee Jong Maar Moedig