Nicole Frain Joins Ridley Racing Team with an Eye on Gravel Classics
Ridley Racing Team has strengthened its lineup with Australian gravel cyclist Nicole Frain. The 32-year-old former Australian road...
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A NEW ERA OF
OFFROAD DOMINANCE
For decades, Ridley and cyclocross have formed a winning combination! Since the turn of the century, we’ve won over 20 titles, and the list keeps growing every year. Starting with the 2024-2025 season, we’re launching our own factory cyclocross team for the first time in our history. This marks a new chapter as we build on our rich heritage and look toward the future!
GRAVEL
We compete in the most renowned gravel races worldwide
CYCLO-CROSS
Our rich heritage forms a winning combination!
MOUNTAINBIKE
No challenge is too much for us!
OUR RIDERS
JORIS NIEUWENHUIS
GRAVEL - CYCLOCROSS
"Just a guy who rides bikes and enjoys nature"
Date of Birth: February 11, 1996
Residence: Zelhem
UCI Ranking: 2
Favorite Cyclocross Race: The classics
Favorite Travel Destination: Costa Rica
What you need to know: World champion in the U23 category in 2017, vice world champion in the elite category in 2024, 4 years as a WorldTour rider, 2 Tour de France participations.
What you might like to know: Guitar player, bookworm, golf enthusiast (self-admittedly quite bad), online chess player (also quite bad), birdwatcher, proud beard owner since 2020 (when the COVID pandemic kept him from visiting a barber for a few months).
FELIPE ORTS LORET
GRAVEL - CYCLOCROSS
Mud devil from Sunny Spain
Date of Birth: April 1, 1995
Residence: La Vila Joiosa
UCI Ranking: 9
Favorite Cyclocross Race: Benidorm
Favorite Travel Destination: Belgium
What you need to know: 6-time consecutive Spanish champion, silver medalist at the U23 World Championships in 2017 (behind teammate Joris Nieuwenhuis), joining from his own cyclocross team.
What you might like to know: Lived with Sven Nys' sister for a while, now staying with a host family in Betekom, partner of Iris, and owner of a dog named Bruno.
DAAN SOETE
GRAVEL - CYCLOCROSS
"Never lose that bit of craziness!"
Date of Birth: December 19, 1994
Residence: Grobbendonk
UCI Ranking: 178
Favorite Cyclocross Race: Koksijde
Favorite Travel Destination: Kansas (hint)
What you need to know: Has stood on the podium of the Belgian Championships in three disciplines, part of the Kempen training group with Jan Bakelants and Wout van Aert, back after a winter full of bad luck.
What you might like to know: Has a fan club in Grobbendonk, single, in love with the sand at Koksijde.
LORE SAS
CYCLOCROSS
Girl power from the Kempen
Date of Birth: December 14, 2005
Residence: Vosselaar
Favorite Cyclocross Race: Zonhoven
Favorite Travel Destination: France
What you need to know: Road rider for ACROG-Tormans, 4th at the Belgian Championships in the junior category in 2023, winner in Wiekevorst 2024.
What you might like to know: Psychology student at Ghent University, best friend is a border collie named Léon (always present at the races).
NICOLE FRAIN
GRAVEL
Gravel Queen from Down Under
Date of birth: 24th August 1992
Residence: Australia
UCI ranking: 274
Favorite Gravel race: Houffalize Gravel (so far)
Favorite Road race: Tour Down Under (biased)
Favorite Travel Destination: Anywhere in Italy (when not heading back to Australia)
What you need to know: 2022 Australian Elite Women’s Road Race Gold Medalist, 2021 Australian Elite Women’s Time Trial Bronze Medalist, Began cycling in 2018
What you might like to know: Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Bioscience with a major in Sport Performance Nutrition (expected completion: 2026), First elite European race: Paris-Roubaix), Formerly worked as a product developer in sports supplements for 5–6 years before committing fully to cycling, Dog mum to Ellie (who stays with her grandparents while I travel), A proud twin and an aunty to three nieces, Love to travel—which works perfectly with the demands of cycling—and am trying to learn Dutch
ABOUT
For decades, Ridley and cyclocross have formed a winning combination! Since the turn of the century, we’ve won over 20 titles, and the list keeps growing every year. Starting with the 2024-2025 season, we’re launching our own factory cyclocross team for the first time in our history. This marks a new chapter as we build on our rich heritage and look toward the future!
Our team will also compete in the most renowned gravel races worldwide, as well as in mountain biking events. From the Traka to Unbound, we’ll position our brand as the trendsetter in both offroad segments. Thanks to our cyclocross legacy, we were pioneering gravel bikes before they became a trend. But progress means staying ahead, so our gravel segment is constantly evolving. What better proving ground than the pros at the highest level?
OUR PARTNERS
