Ready for our second cyclocross season

After a promising debut year, we're gearing up for our second cyclocross season. With Felipe Orts, Joris Nieuwenhuis, and later in the season Daan Soete on board, we're ready for a season packed with sporting highlights, kicking off on Saturday, October 4 at the Exact Cross in Meulebeke.

Valuable debut season

Exactly one year ago, Ridley Racing Team made its official debut at the Exact Cross in Beringen. From day one, the team showed its potential. Felipe Orts quickly established himself as a fan favorite, taking silver at the European Championships on home soil, reaching four classification podiums, claiming his first Benelux win in Rucphen and a 7th consecutive Spanish cyclocross title.

Joris Nieuwenhuis also made a big impression, despite a rough start to his season due to a shingles infection that sidelined him for over three months. He made a strong comeback at the Dutch National Championships, winning bronze, and followed that up with standout rides — including a World Cup podium in Maasmechelen and victories in Middelkerke and Oostmalle to close out the season.

Gravel season as perfect preparation

This summer, Joris focused on gravel racing with one clear goal: Unbound. In 2024, he lined up for the first time in Emporia, Kansas, and this year he was determined to return. Through races in Monaco, Spain, and the Netherlands, he arrived in the U.S. in top shape. He rode an impressive race and remained in podium contention for 250 kilometers. In the end, the heat proved too much, but he still finished in a respectable 18th place.

Felipe also competed in several gravel races this past summer, aiming to further build his engine for the cyclocross season. In recent weeks, he has also taken part in a few road races to fine-tune his form ahead of Meulebeke.

GC ambitions

Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 season, Orts hopes to continue his upward trajectory: “I’m really looking forward to this season,” he says. “I want to keep improving, especially on courses that don’t suit me as well — like sandy or climbing tracks. I want to fight for the podium in the big races, and hopefully take another win. And of course, I’m excited to reconnect with the Belgian fans — their support last year was amazing.”

Joris is just as ambitious: "After a disrupted season last year, we’re twice as motivated to make something special of this one. For me, the season already started in March. That’s when we began evaluating and planning to make sure I’m as well-prepared as possible for cyclocross. Key components of that plan were running, strength training, and gravel races – all with the winter season in mind. I spent the past three weeks training at altitude in Spain to fine-tune everything. Now the first race in Meulebeke is on the calendar for Saturday. I’m really excited and very curious to see where I currently stand. My goal remains the same: win an overall classification and become number one on the UCI ranking."

Daan Soete returns around Christmas

During the Christmas season, Daan Soete will also return to cyclocross action. He’s currently wrapping up his gravel campaign, with the World Championships in South Limburg as his final major target. As reigning Belgian Beach Race Champion, he’ll also compete in beach races from late November, alongside teammate Aaron Van der Beken.

Daan reflects positively on his year: "With this team, I have the opportunity to combine different off-road disciplines. The switch from cyclocross to beach racing was a big success with the national title, but moving from cyclocross to gravel was a bigger leap. It took a few weeks to find my rhythm and adapt my engine to the longer gravel efforts. With a sixth place at The Traka and a thirteenth at Unbound, I managed some strong results. At the Belgian Gravel Championships, Aaron and I just missed out in the sprint, but a few weeks later I managed to win Sea Otter. I had been dreaming of winning a big gravel classic like that, so that victory really meant a lot!"