Belgian rider Thibau Nys will miss the Ardennes classics (La Flèche Wallonne, Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège) this season. The Lidl-Trek rider underwent surgery on his left knee this week to fix a long‑standing issue that caused recurring discomfort during training. The aim is to have him back for the Giro d’Italia.
Nys has yet to race on the road in the 2026 season. According to the team on social media, the rider was dealing with an iliotibial band friction syndrome in that joint, a problem that reappeared after a previous impact and ultimately led him to opt for surgery to resolve it definitively.
“Thibau was suffering from friction syndrome in his left knee. The pain flared up during training after an earlier impact, and he recently asked the team to undergo a surgical procedure.”
After the operation, the young Belgian now faces a recovery period starting with roughly three and a half weeks of complete rest. During that time he will be unable to train on the bike, so his return to activity is not expected until mid‑April.
Nys sidelined during one of his most anticipated periods
That recovery timeline means Thibau Nys will miss several of the spring’s key races, including Amstel Gold Race, Liège–Bastogne–Liège and La Flèche Wallonne (the three Ardennes classics). In addition, his participation in the Giro d’Italia, is also uncertain. The primary goal, however, is to be ready for the Grande Partenza in Bulgaria.
The rider himself regretted the situation on social media after leaving the operating room. “It really hurts to miss the most important races of the year. I was eager to have a big season and felt ready to take a step forward. But that’s life. First things first. I want to thank the team for their excellent care; I’ll be back.”
Thibau Nys will have to wait for now to raise his hands again during the 2026 road season