Yesterday Sven Nys crashed hard while he was in the lead of the Bpost Bank Trofee race in Essen, and a bruised arm made him doubtful for today's World Cup race in Namur. However, the world champion will be on the start line when the race kicks off at 15.00 CET.

After dominating the cyclo-cross scene in the beginning of November, Sven Nys has found things more difficult in recent weeks. A number of unusual crashes have seen him miss several great opportunities and he has only managed to win one race in December.

Yesterday he appeared to be back to his best in the Bpost race in Essen. In the thick mud, he was clearly the strongest rider and had left all behind him halfway through the race.

That was when disaster again struck for Nys. Trying to bunny-hop the barriers, he crashed into the fence and hit his arm. It took some time for him to recover from his tumble and when he again hit the gas, Kevin Pauwels was long gone. Nonetheless, he managed to drop his rivals again and ended the race in 2nd.

"I slightly lost balance and moved a bit to the right. I could not avoid the fencing and went over the handlebars," he told Sporza. "It was a big blow.

"At first I thought something was broken in my forearm, because I had no power anymore and it immediately swelled up. But I thought, if I hold out for half a lap, then I can also finish."

His injured arm made him a doubtful starter in today's World Cup race in Namur where another muddy course will greet the world's best riders. Nys has had a terrible start to his World Cup season and is out of overall contention but would still love to take a win in the prestigious race

"If nothing is broken, it won't be so bad. I don't think I could have finished with a break. I've raced with a dislocated finger before (after Koppenbergcross 2008, ed)," he said. "I have pain, but now I can put weight on that arm."

Later Nys wrote on Twitter.

“I hope I can get some sleep tonight. If tomorrow is worse, I’ll go to the hospital and not to Namur.”

The world champion has now made up his mind and will be at the start line in the Walloon city later today.

"The arm is quite thick and red," his manager Jan Verstraten told cyclo-cross.info. "Apparently, there is an inflammation. But Sven is a tough guy and doesn't give up easily."

Tom Meeusen who crashed yesterday, and Klaas Vantornout who is sick, will also both start the race. Pauwels won the event in 2012.