Thibau Nys has undergone surgery for what is commonly referred to as “cyclist’s knee,” his team Lidl-Trek announced on Friday afternoon. The 23-year-old Belgian had been enjoying a well-earned holiday in recent weeks after a long cyclo-cross winter, but once he returned to the bike, discomfort in his left knee continued to persist. In the end, surgery was deemed the best solution.
The condition is officially known as prepatellar friction syndrome, a chronic overuse problem in the knee that causes superficial pain at the front of the joint. It is seen relatively often in cyclists and runners, which explains the nickname. The pain can also come with swelling and tenderness, and in many cases the issue is identified through an MRI scan.
In Nys’ case, the injury stemmed from a blow to the knee earlier in 2025. Even so, the Belgian continued to feel discomfort during training, which ultimately made the decision to operate a more straightforward one. Nys underwent the procedure in Herentals, where he had a partial prepatellar fasciectomy. That means contracted or thickened connective tissue was removed. According to Lidl-Trek, the procedure was a success.
Nys will now need at least three and a half weeks of rest before he can resume training. His race programme will be determined later, depending on how his recovery progresses. For now, only the Giro d’Italia remains on his schedule, although Nys had also been expected to return to the Ardennes Classics. He made his debut in those races in 2025 and immediately mixed it with the best, but an update of his own has now confirmed that he will have to miss them this year.
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Nys on missing the Classics: “My heart is broken”After Lidl-Trek shared the medical update, Nys also responded himself to the disappointing news. On Instagram, he posted a photo of his bandaged leg. “My heart is broken because I’m missing the most important races of the year,” said the Belgian. “I was hungry for a huge season, I was ready to make a big step. That’s life — first things first. I’ll be back.”