The die is cast: Sven Nys will take over the Telenet-Fidea cyclo-cross team. Nys and current team manager Hans van Kasteren confirmed the news at a press conference today. After the end of his career as a pro rider, 39-year-old Nys will be team manager of his own team. Four potential buyers showed interest but Nys got the nod instead of, among others, former rider Nick Nuyens. Last Tuesday they signed the final documents.

It is Sven Nys himself, through his Balenberg NV company, that buys the Telenet-Fidea team. The new owner is not sports marketing company Golazo although Van Kasteren recently underlined that he only negotiated with the company from Paal-Beringen. The acquisition is effective as of March 1, 2016. For Nys, it is "completely in line with the other activities" of his company whose main focus in the Sven Nys Cycling Center, the center for off-road biking which is being set up in Balenberg.

"I've always said I wanted to train and guide young riders after my active career. That is one of the pillars of the Sven Nys Cycling Centre and the Telenet Fidea Cycling Team. Nowhere in cyclo-cross is there a team with such tradition in this area. The team will also be able to rely on Energy Lab with which we have a partnership and the location lends itself perfectly for cross training. With my experience, I can also bring something to elite riders - still the hallmark of the team - and the organization."

Hans van Kasteren will wave his final farewell after the current season and will be replaced by Nys as team manager. In his own words, Nys is "greatly looking forward" to the challenge. "But until March 1, I am rider of the Crelan AA Drink Team and I will focus totally on my last months as a pro rider. I want to continue to work hard to enjoy every race that I do and I will go for the victory everywhere. Until my bike has been hung upm Hans remains the manager and the face of the Telenet Fidea Cycling Team and their riders are my opponents."

Not only Nys was interested in an acquisition of Telenet-Fidea. Nick Nuyens and business partner Jef Van den Bosch also had their eyes on the team, just like the brothers Christoph and Philip Roodhooft, manager of BKCP Corendon. They lost the battle.

Nys will be assisted in the daily management by Karen Ramakers and Nancy Kasteren and Kris Wouters remains team manager. All current contracts with riders and sponsors will continue.

Hans van Kasteren gave further explanation: "I went in search of a worthy buyer and found it in Sven Nys.  Together with our main sponsors, I opted for Sven as my successor We are all convinced that he will add value to the team. Sven Nys is an icon in cyclo-cross and the added value he can provide to our riders and the team structure is ultimately the decisive factor in this decision."

"Under the leadership of Sven, the pyramid for our youth will continue to exist", added van Kasteren. "The pyramid does work. We have already proved that with Eli Iserbyt Quinten Hermans, Thijs Aerts ...  Sven recognizes this and he can only give a huge boost to our current youth riders."