Nick Nuyens

Nick Nuyens (born 5 May 1980 in Lier) is a Belgian former professional road racing cyclist who last rode for UCI ProTeam Cannondale–Drapac. His biggest wins included the semi-classics Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, Omloop Het Volk, Paris–Brussels and the classic Tour of Flanders. He was a classics rider. He is married to the Belgian multiple national champion, Evy Van Damme. He retired in 2015 after failing to secure a new contract.

The year 2011 was a good one for him, since he took the victory on two classics in Flanders. At the end of March, he prevailed in a sprint at the Dwars door Vlaanderen, after desperately trying to steer clear of the group in the last 20 kilometres (12 mi) of the race. Geraint Thomas of Team Sky finished second, while the lead group was a few seconds away. Two weeks later, Nuyens took one of the Monument of cycling, the Tour of Flanders (Tour of Flanders). After the Muur van Geraardsbergen, one of the big favorite Fabian Cancellara was caught by the bunch. Nuyens was part of the chasers that bridged to the leading group in the final kilometers, and a trio of riders were left to battle it out for the finish while another group was very close to them in the final meters. Nuyens got the best of Sylvain Chavanel (Quick-Step) and Cancellara in the three men sprint. Nuyens said of his biggest win of his career:“It was only in the final 50 meters that I started to fully realize what was happening, that I was about to win this beautiful race.”

Nuyens left Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank at the end of the 2012 season, and joined Garmin–Sharp on a three-year contract from the 2013 season onwards.

During the 2009 season he used a wood block under his saddle to prevent it from sagging in wet conditions.

Major results

Source:

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Grand Tour	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Giro	WD	—	—	WD	—	—	—	—	—
Tour	—	—	WD	—	—	—	—	121	—
Vuelta	—	—	—	78	—	127	161	—	WD

WD = Withdrew; In Progress = IP