Cyclocross bikes haven't actually changed all that much
(Image credit: Baloise Glowi Lions/Robin Wilmott)
Cycling has often thrown up very successful familial dynasties. Former world champion on the road and multiple world champion in cyclocross, Mathieu van der Poel, is the son of former cyclocross world champion Adri van der Poel, as well as the grandson of Milan-San Remo winner Raymond Poulidor and Paris-Roubaix winner, Magnus Bäckstedt's daughters, Zoe and Elynor, ride for Canyon-Sram zondacypto and UAE Team ADQ respectively.
It is, however, unusual to find a father-son duo who not only competed in the same discipline but also on the same bikes. Sven Nys, widely regarded as the greatest cyclocross rider in history, rode much of his career aboard Colnago machines but switched to riding Treks in the latter years. His son, Thibau Nys, now rides for Lidl-Trek on the road and the Baloise Glowi Lions on the 'cross field, in both cases riding Trek bikes.
In advance of the 2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championship this weekend in Liévin, France, we take a look at podium contender and current European and Belgian champion Nys Jr's machine and compare it to his father's bikes from ten years ago to see what, if anything, has changed in the world of cyclocross tech.
Thibau Nys' Trek Boones
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As European Champion, Thibau Nys has the option of an all blue machine alongside his usual pale green team issue Trek Boone(Image credit: Baloise Glowi Lions)
While it's as modern as dedicated cyclocross bikes get, it's still very similar to older bikes in many ways.(Image credit: Baloise Glowi Lions)
Thibau Nys rides one of a pair of Trek Boones in a size 56. The dedicated cyclocross bike remains in Trek's lineup despite the trend for competitors like Specialized to morph their cyclocross bikes into gravel machines in recent years, as has happened with the Specialized Crux.
Nys Jr's machine is fitted with a Sram Red AXS groupset, set up with a single front chainring and a very low profile chain catcher mounted to the very base of the seat tube. We cannot make out the size of the chainring, but it does include an integrated SRAM Red power meter. His cranks are 172.5mm and look to have Shimano XTR pedals mounted to them.
His cassette is a 10-33 in these shots, but the team has informed me that he will switch out for a 10-36 option depending on the course.
Tyres are also course dependant, but here we see a set of Team Edition Challenge Limus, a mud tread designed for use in the heaviest conditions of the season where traction is prioritised over speed.
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Cyclocross is still the last stronghold for tubular wheels outside of track racing, with the tyres physically glued to the rim. Tubulars are easier to ride on when flat and don't come with a risk of 'burping,' whereby air escapes under hard cornering with low pressures, as can be the case with tubeless systems.
Another area where cyclocross bikes still appear to be flying the flag for older tech is in the cockpit. Thibau's Boone still features a separate bar and stem, with no internal hose routing until the headset. Given the greater prevalence of crashes in cyclocross I suspect this is as much a crash insurance choice, where bars can rotate instead of snap during large impacts, as it is an ergonomic one.
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Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 wheels are shod with team edition Challenge tubular tyres, which have silk casings rather than cotton. (Image credit: Baloise Glowi Lions)
A Sram Red 10-33 cassette is fitted here, but Nys Jr will swap to a 10-36 for some courses. (Image credit: Baloise Glowi Lions)
The almost glow-in-the-dark green of the standard team issue bike is perhaps a nod to the team sponsor, Glowi. (Image credit: Baloise Glowi Lions)
The decals on the European Champion's version have been blued out, to give a very sleek look. (Image credit: Baloise Glowi Lions)
Sven Nys' Trek Boones
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(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
(Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Thibau's father, Sven, also rode a size 56 Trek Boone back in 2014. That was a season where the use of disc brakes was in a transitional phase, with some riders adopting them and others resolutely sticking to cantilever brakes. Sven, for his part, races the season on a pair of Trek Boones, one disc-equipped, and one with cantis.
The geometry of the frame has shifted slightly in the last decade, with a more horizontal top tube on the 2014 edition. This should make shouldering the bike easier but may make it harder to maneuver around on technical descents. the reduced seatpost stickup will also have less flex, but the 2015 Boone had a built-in 'Isospeed Decoupler,' which added compliance to the rear end.
Sven raced his latter years on Dugast tyres, now a subsidiary of Vittoria, but then as now, they are 33mm wide tubulars glued to Bontrager rims. Also, round bars feature in the cockpit, as they do on his son's machine.
Where things differ primarily is in the brakes and the drivetrain. Running cantilevers is a big difference, but even the disc-equipped machine has quick-release wheels rather than thru-axles, increasing the chances of disc rub. Sven also rode with Shimano Dura-Ace gearing with a 2x setup, but in contrast to the cable actuated brakes both of his bikes used electronic gearing.
Dura-Ace derailleurs of that era didn't feature a clutch for increased chain retention, and so as well as providing greater gear range the front derailleur acted as a chain catcher, though did increase the risk of mud clogging the drivetrain. despite this, Sven's bike can be seen with an additional chain catcher inside the little ring.
Running a 2x system also allowed Sven to make use of a tighter 11-28 cassette, meaning smaller jumps between gears, allowing the Belgian to maintain the optimum cadence.
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Round bars, external hoses and wires? Plus ce change. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Mounting the cable guide to the fork crown rather than at the upper headset bearing area reduces fork judder. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
A 39/46 Dura-Ace double is a rare sight nowadays in a dominant 1x scene. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
An 11-28 cassette allows for smaller gaps between the gears, with the added range being provided by the double chainset. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
I actually run these brakes still on my touring bike, though they were originally designed for cyclocross racing. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
disc rotors will undoubtedly provide greater stopping power, though quick release wheels could cause rotor alignment issues. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Dugast Rhino tyres, as opposed to the Challenge tubs of his son. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
The tubular rims on his disc-equipped bike were wider than on the rim brake machine, providing a more stable platform for the tyre. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Not XTR, but Shimano pedals here to match the groupset. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Despite the relative security of running a front derailleur, a chain catcher is still fitted to stop the chain escaping down the inside of the little ring. (Image credit: Robin Wilmott)
Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.
