Felipe Orts prepares for the European Championship in his home country: "It's an important event for me"

The European Cyclo-cross Championships will take place in Pontevedra, Spain, during the first weekend of November. For our rider, Felipe Orts, this is a significant event. It’s the first time Spain has been honored to host this championship, and both Ridley Racing Team and Felipe himself are hoping it will be a special day.

In the past, Spain occasionally hosted the World Championship, but after 1990 (Getxo), major championships stayed away from the Iberian Peninsula. Thanks to Felipe's remarkable performances, there has been renewed enthusiasm for cyclo-cross in Spain in recent years. The new World Cup race in Benidorm was a great success, with thousands of spectators and exciting races. The European Championship is a great continuation of this success story.

Galicia

Pontevedra is a city in Galicia, located in the northwest of Spain. The city has been positioning itself as a host for international sporting events, initially focusing on triathlons, and now also cyclo-cross. By adding a European Championship for masters on Friday to the program, they hope to attract even more people. Besides sports, visitors can also enjoy the city's famous cuisine (with octopus, empanadas, Galician beef, and seafood as highlights) and its culture in the historic center of the city.

Felipe usually performs well at the European Championship. In 2019, he finished 9th in Silvelle, Italy, and a year later, he improved by two spots in ’s-Hertogenbosch. The European Championship on the Col du Vam (17th) was a bit disappointing, but in Namur (6th) and Pontchâteau (9th), he showed that he is among the best riders of his generation.

"It's not really a home race," laughs our Spanish star when asked about the European Championship. "It’s obviously in my home country, but I’m from Villajoyosa in Alicante, which is almost on the opposite side." In winter, Felipe resides in Vorselaar, but he will skip the Koppenberg cross race to prepare optimally for the European Championship.

This year, Felipe has not had much luck in cyclo-cross races. However, during the races, he has shown that his form is definitely good. The Spanish champion hopes that, in front of his home crowd, his fortunes will turn around. Later in the winter, he also aims for a podium spot in the so-called "TV races." His fan club and many supporters, just like Ridley Racing Team in Beringen, will be there to cheer him on!