Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) is being lined up for a Giro d'Italia debut at the 2026 edition, starting with the Grande Partenza in Bulgaria, according to a post on X from Italian journalist Ciro Scognamiglio of La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 23-year-old Belgian, a cyclocross star turned road puncheur, made his first Grand Tour appearance at the 2025 Tour de France. A move to the Giro would mark the next step in a rapid rise that already includes a marquee 2025 win at the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain and increasingly ambitious targets in the Ardennes Classics.
What makes the rumoured programme so enticing is the route. The 2026 Giro opens in Bulgaria, as detailed in our look at the radical Grande Partenza, and Stage 2 from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo is tailor-made for riders of Nys' profile. The finale climbs towards the Lyaskovets Monastery, roughly 3.5 km at 7.5% with double-digit ramps, before a fast run to the line.
For a rider who thrives on short, violent efforts and carries a sharp sprint after a hard day, it looks like a textbook opportunity to chase both the stage and, potentially, the first maglia rosa of the race.
For now, though, it remains a well-sourced rumour rather than a confirmed plan. With Lidl-Trek reshaping their roster around versatile young leaders, seeing Nys at the Giro feels logical – the only question is when the team will make it official.
