The duo broke away from the rest on the seventh lap on a dry, fast-paced course, exchanging blows before Orts faded in the final lap, allowing Nys to take his first major championship victory solo.
Eli Iserbyt (Belgium) was the best of the rest as he took the final place on the podium.
Nys was delighted to win the European title, but found the course challenging from a tactical sense.
“It’s a super difficult race because it’s so fast and difficult to make a gap. So I went into the race with the feeling of just let it happen, you know, and try to adapt in every scenario,” Nys said in the TV interview after the finish.
“I didn’t expect to have so much control from the start. It was all clear in my head and I knew exactly what I had to do. The moment I took the front, I had full control over the race.”
Nys, who turns 22 later this month, paid tribute to his companion at the front Felipe Orts, saying he was the “best guy” to have with him in the finale.
“He’s super strong and I knew before coming here he would really be ready for this. I think it was really a big goal for him to be really good over here.”
To have him with me is perfect because we understand each other really good. And we were both riding full for the podium spot. So it’s perfect,” he added.