Daan Soete finishes 15th among the world’s best at the UCI Gravel World Championships

This past weekend, the UCI Gravel World Championships took place in South Limburg, the Netherlands. Four of our Ridley Racing Team riders lined up against the very best in the world and they did so with pride, determination, and grit. In a field stacked with top-tier WorldTour talent, Daan Soete delivered an impressive performance to secure 15th place, while Aaron Van der Beken crossed the line just six spots behind him. Among the women, Nicole Frain concluded her final race for the Ridley Racing Team in 26th, with Violette Neza finishing 90th after a spirited and steady effort.

Originally set to take place in Nice, France, the event was relocated to the rolling hills between Beek and Maastricht after the French organizers withdrew. The Dutch stepped in to deliver a spectacular edition of the Worlds on a demanding, undulating course. The women’s race covered 2.5 laps for a total of 131 kilometers, while the men took on an additional lap — pushing their total distance to a grueling 181 kilometers.

A strong showing from our women

On Saturday, Nicole Frain and Violette Neza flew the Ridley Racing Team flag in the women’s event. Our Australian rider — and overall winner of the UCI Gravel World Series — positioned herself brilliantly in the early stages, maintaining a spot near the front of the peloton as the race began to take shape.

When the Dutch road specialists increased the pace and split the field, Nicole settled into her rhythm and fought all the way to the finish, claiming a 26th place in her farewell race for Ridley Racing Team.

Violette Neza, meanwhile, paced herself intelligently throughout the race, maintaining consistency from start to finish. Her perseverance paid off with a 90th place finish, where she was greeted at the line by familiar faces from Rwanda, complete with sunflowers and warm embraces.

Daan and Aaron take on the men’s race

On Sunday, it was the men’s turn. The race was animated by a long and daring breakaway featuring Florian Vermeersch, Frits Biesterbos, Floris Van Tricht, and Nils Politt — a move that ultimately produced the winner.

Daan Soete battled through cramps in the closing stages but dug deep to stay with the group fighting for the top ten. After an all-out sprint, he secured a strong 15th place finish, an outstanding result against a world-class field.

Aaron Van der Beken, who spent much of the race at the back of the peloton, showed true perseverance. Even after losing contact, he maintained a steady rhythm to bring home a 21st place finish. Both riders crossed the line among some of cycling’s biggest names — Matej Mohorič, Tom Pidcock, and Tim Wellens were all inside the top seven — a testament to just how far Daan and Aaron have come in establishing themselves among the world’s elite gravel racers.

A farewell and what’s next

For Nicole Frain, this race marked the end of her chapter with Ridley Racing Team. She will soon announce her next challenge, and we wish her nothing but success on her journey ahead. Aaron Van der Beken will line up one last time this season at Flanders Legacy Gravel, while Daan Soete takes a well-earned break before turning his focus back to cyclocross later this year.

The UCI Gravel World Championships once again proved how competitive and international the discipline has become and with performances like these, the Ridley Racing Team continues to cement its place among the very best.