With the Christmas season looming around the corner, Sven Nys is asking from help from the weather gods. "For me, it would be good if it started to rain but a cyclo-cross rider has to be good in all conditions."

Sven Nys is currenly not among the big winners in the cyclo-cross field as recent races have been dominated by Wout van Aert and Kevin Pauwels. "Especially Van Aert stands out," Nys tells Sporza.

"From Kevin (Pauwels, ed), we can expect him to put his stamp on certain races. But the way Wout has made his debut with the pros has impressed me."

Nys has only won a single race in one of the major series: GP Mario De Clercq (in the BPost Bank Trofee). And that was almost two months ago. "Everyone keeps asking when the next win will come.

"But you can't order your top shape. After [today's race in] Overijse I will build towards the Christmas period. I look forward to some heavier crosses. Until now, it has been a fairly dry season so it remains exciting until the last round.

"That is also reflected in the number of different winners (seven, ed.) in the races in the series. I am longing for rain and mud. But a cyclo-cross rider must be good in all conditions."