Hard Work Pays Off: Nicole Wins Houffa Gravel!

After months of perseverance and hard work, Nicole Frain finally reaped the rewards last Saturday in Houffa Gravel. Our Australian gravel rider proved to be the strongest after 141 challenging kilometers in the picturesque surroundings of Houffalize. It’s her first ever victory in the UCI Gravel World Series and one that is more than deserved after a season filled with setbacks and comebacks.

A tough battle in the Ardennes

The Ardennes course was anything but easy, with constant climbs and descents. Nicole lined up against a strong field including Dutch riders Esmée Peperkamp, Wendy Oosterwoud and Marjet Groen, as well as Belgian contender Floor Van Elsacker.

It was Peperkamp who animated much of the race, attacking early and opening a gap. Nicole, however, stayed calm and kept the leader within reach, maintaining a gap of around 45 seconds to one minute.

In the final lap, she made her move. On the steep slopes of the Saint-Roch, Nicole went all-in and bridged across to the front. Without hesitation, she launched her decisive attack. From there, she steadily built her advantage along the banks of the Ourthe, riding solo all the way to the finish line.

In the end, Nicole crossed the line with a commanding margin of more than ten minutes, though the result doesn’t tell the full story. She spent nearly every minute of the race alone, showing both her strength and resilience.

A well-earned breakthrough

This victory comes as a relief and a reward for a season marked by consistency. Nicole already finished 3rd at Santa Vall and collected multiple runner-up spots, including in the Monaco Gravel Race, every stage and the overall classification at Gravel, Grit ’n Grind, and at La Monsterrato. The win in Houffalize crowns her perseverance and confirms her place among the top riders in the gravel scene.

Strong team performance

Consistency also defines Aaron Van der Beken. On Saturday, there was no stopping eventual winner Mads Würtz Schmidt, but Aaron fought hard with a select group of riders from the Low Countries for the remaining podium spots. He eventually claimed 5th place, while teammate Daan secured a solid 12th.

With this strong collective performance, the team looks ahead with confidence to the final gravel races of the season.

📸 Bolero Gravel Series & Thibaut Debelle Photography