22-year-old Belgian cyclist Thibau Nys, one of the key talents of the Lidl-Trek team and Baloise Glowi Lions, has once again been in the public spotlight, but this time not because of sporting achievements, but through a powerful symbolic statement tattooed directly on his skin. On the eve of the start of the new cyclocross season, Nys visited a tattoo parlor and decorated his torso with a large French phrase that serves as both a mantra and a reminder of the key balance in the life of a professional athlete.
Symbolism on the skin: why the French motto and why the stomach?
Since Nys’s arms were already quite densely tattooed, the athlete chose the area of his stomach for his new, very personal and motivating message. This location in tattoo culture is often used to place key, central life principles, as it is located directly above the center of the body and is its visual anchor. The choice fell on the phrase “La tête et les jambes”, which translates from French as “Head and legs”.
This concise but profound phrase perfectly reflects the philosophy of professional sports, especially in such a demanding discipline as cyclocross, where success depends not only on physical strength (legs) but also on the ability to think strategically, willpower, and psychological stability (head). For Nys, whose ambitions extend far beyond national championships, this tattoo becomes a kind of contract with himself, requiring complete dedication at all levels.
The tattoo, located in the center of the body, acts as a kind of “psychological anchor”. In moments of maximum fatigue or pressure, when the mind and body are at their limit, this inscription, even hidden under the form, serves as a reminder of the need for mental control. This is not just a decoration, but a powerful tool for self-motivation, which becomes an integral part of the athlete’s personality.
From asphalt to mud: champion preparation and the philosophy of Michael Jordan
The decision to get a new tattoo coincided with a period of intense preparation for Nys for the winter cyclocross season. After completing the road season on August 31 at the Bretagne Classic race, the athlete took a break to recover and rethink, about which he emotionally shared on social networks. September was devoted to building form, and now Nys is ready to start again on November 1 at the prestigious Koppenbergcross.
Preparation took place in Spain. In particular, Thibau Nys repeatedly conquered the popular training climb Coll de Rates in the southwest of the country. According to the racer himself, even in imperfect weather conditions, the track was completely empty, which allowed him to fully concentrate on work. In addition to long climbs, the training process included:
- Improving peak power in 1- and 5-minute intervals.
- Training in the sand, where Nys practiced technique in his European championship form.
- Active recovery and non-sporting activities, such as golf and working on his own clothing line.
Nys accompanied this phase of preparation with a quote from basketball legend Michael Jordan, which perfectly rhymes with his new tattoo motto: “It starts with hard work, it ends with champagne”. Both phrases – Jordan’s and “La tête et les jambes” – emphasize the inextricable link between grueling work and ultimate triumph.
Tattoo culture in sports: expert analysis
In recent years, we have seen how tattoos have ceased to be merely an attribute of style and have become an integral part of the sports narrative. For elite athletes like Thibau Nys, tattoos are not just decoration, but a visualization of their career path and internal attitudes. The choice of the French language, which is often associated with classic sports mottos and the Olympic spirit, adds additional weight and universality to the phrase.
Placing a large, textual tattoo on the torso, unlike the already familiar sleeves, demonstrates a high degree of personal significance of the message. Sleeves often tell a story, but central tattoos on the chest or abdomen usually express a fundamental, unchanging principle that governs a person’s actions. In Nys’s case, he publicly declares: success is impossible if one of the components – mind or body – fails. This is a direct legacy of his phenomenal past season.
Last winter season, Thibau Nys finished with incredible results, which formed the basis of his current ambitions. He won the titles of Belgian champion and European champion in cyclocross. At the World Championships, he finished third, yielding only to two titans of the sport – Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. In total, Nys won five victories and finished on the podium ten times.
Such a tattoo as “La tête et les jambes” acts as a kind of “mental shield”. This is not only motivation, but also protection from external pressure. When the stakes are high and the competition is fierce, as in cyclocross, where technical errors cost victory, a constant reminder of the need to maintain clarity of mind becomes invaluable. Thibau Nys, in essence, tattooed his creed on his skin, which will lead him through the mud and sand of the upcoming races, starting in November 2025. This step finally solidifies his status not just as a promising athlete, but as a champion who is ready to use all available tools – from grueling training to a personal tattoo manifesto – to achieve the highest steps of the podium.