Three Riders in the Top 22 at UNBOUND Gravel

The legendary UNBOUND Gravel 200 once again proved to be one of the toughest and most iconic gravel races in the world—and our Ridley Racing Team rose to the occasion. With Daan Soete finishing 13th, Joris Nieuwenhuis 18th, and Aaron Van der Beken 22nd, no fewer than three of our riders secured top results in this high-profile event. The entire team can look back on an edition to be proud of.

This year’s race, despite being marked by heavy rainfall across Kansas, became the fastest edition in UNBOUND’s history. With over 240 kilometers remaining, the decisive move came from Cameron Jones and Simon Pellaud, who escaped early and built a commanding lead. Joris Nieuwenhuis joined a strong chase group that managed to gradually reduce the gap from twelve minutes to seven, but the front duo never let the advantage drop below five minutes.

Back in the peloton, Daan Soete and Aaron Van der Beken kept a close eye on the race dynamics. As the final section of the race unfolded and groups started to merge, both riders were forced to give everything they had. Daan crossed the finish line as the first Belgian in a strong 13th place, followed closely by Joris in 18th after an aggressive ride. Aaron completed a consistent and impressive effort, finishing 22nd and rounding out a successful day for the team.

High and Lows

UNBOUND is known not only for its glory, but also for its brutal unpredictability. Unfortunately, our team was not spared. Nicole Frain, who was riding an exceptional race and well inside the top five, was brought down by another rider and was forced to abandon. Felipe Orts also ran into misfortune, suffering two punctures that dashed his hopes of a top result.

Despite the setbacks, the team leaves Kansas with great confidence and a strong sense of unity. The Flint Hills once again served as the ultimate testing ground, and we passed with flying colors. With UNBOUND behind us, the riders will now take a brief moment to recover before turning their focus to the next major challenge: Eislek Gravel in Luxembourg, part of the UCI Gravel World Series.

After her first experience at UNBOUND, Nicole Frain shared a few heartfelt reflections.

“My first UNBOUND attempt. And we can say that the feeling was good, and now I know what I want to do for next year. But the good feeling also comes from off the bike too. I’ve loved these last trips with the team—the support I feel, the belief, and just good vibes, banter, and quality humans. So a big thanks to the team for creating this and, of course, for the effort it takes to get us all here.”

With results like these and a team spirit this strong, the Ridley Racing Team is more motivated than ever for what lies ahead.