With Sven Nys through his Hageland
"The Hageland is just a fantastic cycling region. You cycle through nature, between the fruit orchards, over short and nasty slopes that succeed each other very quickly, where you turn and turn and there is something new behind every corner. Monotonous it never becomes."
And yet you drew out a new route - did you need change?
"It's the same region, but for once you climb the hills from a different side. That provides a different experience, because in recent years so many people have already cycled the Sven Nys Cycling Route. Then you may already offer them a different panorama."
"Flemish Brabant has been the center of cycling more often in recent years. You had the World Cycling Championship, the World Gravel Championship, and more cycling events that put the province on the cycling map. That's caused more and more cycling fans and recreational cyclists to learn about the region's assets."
Do you look at the region differently now that the Hageland is no longer a training course for you?
"During my pro career, I literally rode up the Hageland hills every day. The course was just challenging enough. Any cycling enthusiast will agree that you really feel the altimeters in your legs. So ideal for my daily training rides. Then my speed, my average time and my delivered wattage were most important. If I felt I was doing well on the slopes, I was fueling plenty of confidence for the next race. But now the focus is on enjoyment. I have time for the details along the course."
Which stops along the way are worth getting off?
"Take your time to look Eddy Merckx in the eye; his statue stands in front of his birthplace in Meensel-Kiezegem. The facade of village pub 't Klein Verlet is a beautiful street art work as an ode to the greatest of all. Many youth cyclists finished their first races in this region, just like Merckx himself at the time."
"Climb the Vlooyberg tower in Tielt-Winge, which is world famous in Flanders because of the series Callboys. The beautiful Castle of Horst looks like it came straight out of the Middle Ages. From here the hills really begin to undulate, with vines and fruit trees on the slopes. A little further on, towards Tienen, open landscapes and undulating roads await you. I've already said it: this region never bores."
Does Thibau have the same passion for the region?
"He also trains plenty here, but it's still all about speed for him. It's the young Sven Nys in him that comes out then. (laughs)."
The renewed Sven Nys Cycling Route is 101 kilometers long and has 749 altimeters. A weekday ride for you?
"Already a little less weekday than in my active years. But it is a distance that is achievable for everyone. And if it gets a little too difficult for you, you can always shorten a bit. The roads meander plenty, so you quickly find a shortcut."
The Sven Nys name is still everywhere: the Sven Nys Cycling Route, the Sven Nys Grand Prix, the Sven Nys Cycling Center.
"Look at it as a legacy I'm proud of. If I can inspire a generation of young cyclists, I'm happy to lend my name. They are the champions of tomorrow. With Thibau as my own fine example."
