Belgian hopeful manipulation will enable him to race well
Having finished a distant fifth in yesterday’s World Cup race in Zolder, losing almost two minutes to the winner Lars Boom, Sven Nys was not optimistic about his chances for today’s Superprestige race in Diegem. However he is feeling better after receiving treatment this morning and providing he recovers in time, could ride strongly this evening.
“The osteopath has put things right, from my jaw to my neck to my feet,” he told Sporza. “He has everything corrected and put back in line. I have no pain. The lack of momentum Sunday was because I was not symmetrical on the saddle of the bike. But that is now fixed, and I am very happy.”
Nys crashed last week and knocked himself out of alignment, causing yesterday’s problems. He should fare better after his treatment, although it is quite possible to feel tender for a couple of days after osteopathic work. As a result he’s not certain how this evening will go.
“I’m 100 percent sure that everything is straight. And that was desperately needed, because otherwise I would not race in Diegem,” he said. “But the big question is how I will react? It is not easy to be manipulated the day of the cross race. But I have a few hours to go cycling [before the race], and to relax the back muscles.
Nys has performed well thus far in the Superprestige series. He finished third behind world champion Zdenek Stybar in the first two rounds in Ruddervoorde and Zonhoven, then took over the series lead when he won in Hamme-Zogge. He defended his position by winning in Asper Gavere, building enough points to hold onto his lead despite a snapped pedal and resulting fourth place at the most recent round in Gieten.
He will start this evening’s race with 68 points, twelve more than Kevin Pauwels and sixteen up on Stybar. It’s a solid tally but he’s taking nothing for granted, particularly as he believes the course may not be a lucky one for him.
“Last year I had to leave the finale with a broken shifter,” he explained. “I won four times, but the marriage between Nys and Diegem is not a happy one.”
After today’s race, there are two more rounds to go. The riders will slug it out on February 6th in Hoogstraten and then six days later in Middelkerke.
Nys has won the Superprestige a stunning nine times in twelve years, setting a record for the most victories. He’s now 34 years of age and has been the most dominant cyclo-cross rider of the past decade.