The European Cyclocross Championships took place on Sunday on the military domain of Lombardsijde, near the Belgian coast. Our team headed there with healthy ambitions but returned home with mixed emotions. Felipe Orts showed a strong performance, finishing 9th and returning to his usual level, while Joris Nieuwenhuis had an off day and crossed the line in 15th place. He’ll have a quick chance to bounce back on Tuesday at the Jaarmarktcross in Niel. Unlike the well-known Superprestige course in Middelkerke, the Lombardsijde circuit offered a completely different challenge. With several running sections and long stretches of sand, it was a grueling track suited for riders with raw power. Both Felipe and Joris got off to a solid start and were part of the leading group early on. Joris even took the lead briefly but eventually had to let the front riders go after hitting his limits. In a second chase group, Felipe rode a consistent race, always within striking distance. He felt better than in previous weeks, even though sand is not his preferred terrain. In the final lap, he managed to move up to 9th place, showing clear signs of progress. Joris eventually finished 15th after a tough day in the saddle. Felipe: “I’m happy with this result. It wasn’t the best course for me with all the sand, but I felt good and had some energy left for the final lap. I’m glad to be back in the top ten and to feel that my form is improving.” Joris: “The preparations leading up to this European Championship were great. From the first rough planning back in March, to the altitude training camp in September, a lot of running and all the cross-training sessions in the sand with Richard (Groenendaal). But today it just didn’t click. I couldn’t get into it. And that’s also part of the process. If there’s one thing I learned from last year, it’s that setbacks like these can help you come back stronger as long as you take the right steps. Together with the people around me, we’re going to keep working. There are still many races to come, starting Tuesday in Niel.” Despite the mixed results, the team remains optimistic and motivated. With both riders showing strong commitment and continuous progress, the next races promise exciting battles and opportunities to move back toward the front of the field.

For many cyclocross fans, the season really starts with the Koppenberg Cross in Oudenaarde at the first of November. It's one of the classics on the calendar and a big showdown every year. One day later, we we're heading to Lokeren. Both races are part of the X2O Badkamers Trophy, so this was an important weekend for the general classifcation right away. X2O BadkamersTrofee The Mighty Koppenberg The "Bult van Melden" is one of Belgium's thoughest hills. Every year, the best WorldTour pro's suffer on the climb during the Tour of Flanders and on the first of November, it's up to the cyclocross riders. The race also meant the comeback of Thibau Nys and he was immediately on of the main favourites. The race started furious and it showed that it would become a hard race. For a long while, Joris was riding on the verge of a top 10 spot. Felipe had the same issues as last weekend and together with Sports Director Richard Groenendaal, he decided to call it quits. Joris had a strong couple of last laps and slowly he was gaining some spots again. As the X2O Trophy is a classification based on the timings of each rider, it was important to keep riding. He tried to limit his losses and he finished the race in 8th position, 2'38" behind a strong Thibau Nys. It definitely wasn't our best day out, but new chances on Sunday in Lokeren. Commanding win in Lokeren The spirits were high to turn things around in Lokeren and Joris already felt during the recon that this was a lap that would suit him. Still starting on the second row, Joris didn't had the best start and it was hard to gain a lot of spots on this lap. Once he made his way to the front, he could start to develop a very high pace. It was only Michael Vanthourenhout who could follow for a while, but even he had to let Joris go a bit after 30 minutes into this race. Lap after lap, Joris was able to gain time on all the competitors and he got himself into a comfortable lead. Even a little crash in the penultimate lap couldn't stop him. He got the win over the line and had all the time to celebrate his second victory of the season. Today's dominant display also meant that he takes the lead in the X2O Badkamers Trophy. The next round of this classification is in Hamme in two weeks. Felipe did had a good start in Lokeren but after the first two laps he was losing ground. He continued the race and finished in 21st position, but the feeling wasn't good for the fourth race in a row. Felipe will head back to Spain where he will undergo examinations so that we can find an explanation for the weaker feelings. Next week, there's a jersey up for grabs with the European Championships in Middelkerke. See you there!

The first double weekend of this cyclocross season was upon us, which led the team to Heerde and Overijse. In Heerde, we we're facing a sand track and in Overijse the riders had to tackle a brutal climbing course. Spirits were high within our team as Felipe just clinched his first victory of the season in Woerden and Joris got onto the podium in the Superprestige season opener in Ruddervoorde. Exact Cross Exact Cross Heerde In Heerde, our riders were facing strong competitors, such as Vandeputte, Sweeck, Ronhaar and Vandebosch. The heavy rain of this week impacted the parcours as well as the sand became less technical. Because of this, the advantage for sand specialists as Sweeck reduced and it should play into the cards of our riders. However, Felipe had a bad start. Once the start was given, he immediately clipped out of his pedal and lost a lot of terrain. Joris, on the other hand, did have a great start. He was in control for the first one and a half lap, until Ronhaar took over. The Dutchman started pushing and it became clear that Joris opted for the wrong tires. In no time, Ronhaar was able to slip away and gain a maximum advantage of 25 seconds on the chasing group. As soon as it became clear that the Typhoon's weren't the right race tire, Joris came in for a set of Rhino tires. The difference was clear as he could start the chase right away. Lap after lap, he was able to gain some time on Ronhaar again and with a bit over one lap to go, Joris had closed the gap with him. Joris wanted to lose no time and quickly attacked for the victory. Ronhaar didn't had an answer anymore and it was Joris Nieuwenhuis who was able to take his first victory of the season. Exact Cross Felipe had a good comeback after his bad start and at a certain moment, it looked like he was going to fight for a double podium for the team. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep off guys like Vandeputte and Sweeck and it was a 7th place in the end. After the race, Joris reflected on his victory: ‘I had kind of calculated it. I didn't have to go for it in one go. My personal preference is to drive relatively consistent lap times. I noticed that Pim was going really fast in the first few laps, and I chose the wrong tyres. I had to recover a bit, but once I had the right tyres, I was able to race with more confidence. It's going really well so far. I've learned to be careful with certain statements, but I'm very happy with how things are going now.’ Superprestige Overijse The second day of this weekend brought us to Overijse for the Mother of all Cyclocross races. It's one of the toughest on the calendar as there are a lot of altitude meters for a cyclocross race. After Joris' second spot last week in Ruddervoorde, he also wanted to have a good result to defend his general classificiation. Both Joris and Felipe had a good start, but it soon became clear that it wasn't Felipe's day. He kept losing places and his explanation after the finish was pretty simple: 'No power. Bad day for me and the track was very hard. Let's recover for next weekend and we'll try again.' He concluded the day in 21st position. Joris had a better day, but 30 minutes into the race he felt that he wasn't able to replicate the result from Saturday. Once again, it was Pim Ronhaar who was in command for a long time in this race. He launched multiple attacks and in the beginning, Joris was able to respond. However, Ronhaar's final attack with Vanthourenhout proved to be too much. Joris didn't get much help in the chase to the leading duo and in the end, a couple of guys had a better final lap. Nieuwenhuis finished in 6th position. Photonews Michael Vanthourenhout took his second Superprestige win of this season and has a commanding lead in the general classification. Vandeputte just had the edge over Joris in this race and that's also the case for the GC as Joris follows in third position. The next Superprestige race is in Niel in two weeks. Next weekend, the X2O classification will kick off as well with a double header. On Saturday, we're racing on the iconic Koppenberg and on Sunday, we'll line up in Lokeren. See you next weekend!

Midweek racing under the night lights of Woerden. That's what was ahead of Felipe Orts on Tuesday evening. Our Spaniard loves this race and returns to the Dutch city every year. van der Haar managed to win the event eight years in a row, but Felipe was dedicated to end this streak. Sander van Hemert Felipe's opponents listened to the names of van der Haar, Ronhaar, Kamp and Michels, among others. Michael Vanthourenhout, winner in Ruddervoorde, was scheduled for this race as well, but he had to withdraw with pain in his back. The hole shot in the race was for David Haverdings, but Felipe immediately followed closely. After the first lap, he took over and it was only Pim Ronhaar that could follow. The Dutch rider clearly had a strong day because he went on a furious attack. Felipe had to let go for a brief moment and it looked like the race was slipping away. However, this was not the case. His strong technique meant that he was one of the few who could jump over the barriers and thanks to this, he could close the gap with Ronhaar again. Felipe reloaded his guns and this time it was up to him to launch an attack. He remained mistake-free and the barriers proved to be decisive as well. He made the attack stick and finished it off with a wheelie. Sander van Hemert Busy weekend ahead This win is a great confidence booster for Felipe as he just missed the podium in Ardooie and had some bad luck in Ruddervoorde. He'll carry this confidence to our first double header of the season. Both Joris and Felipe will do the Exact Cross in Heerde on Saturday and the second Superprestige race in Overijse on Sunday. Let's aim for that top step once again!

Save the best for last! That must have been what Aaron Van der Beken was thinking when he lined up for the UCI Gravel World Series in Leuven on Sunday. After 147 kilometers, he proved to be the fastest of a 12-rider lead group — closing his gravel campaign with a strong and well-deserved victory. In West Flanders, Joris Nieuwenhuis came close to making it a perfect weekend for the team. © Bolero Aaron has made major progress in the gravel scene this year. The highlight was a brilliant 21st place at the World Championships, but the rider from Horebeke clearly wasn’t finished yet. On the same gravel roads where last year’s rainbow jerseys were decided, participants could also qualify for next year’s Worlds in Australia. Racing through the beautiful Woods of Brabant National Park, Aaron stayed alert all day and made the decisive front group of twelve. Among them were big names such as Greg Van Avermaet and Jan Bakelants, as well as a handful of rising young riders. Aaron timed his sprint perfectly, taking the win by half a wheel over Mats Omloop — his first gravel victory as a young elite rider. © Bolero Ruddervoorde Meanwhile, in Ruddervoorde, the first round of the Superprestige cyclocross series was held on Sunday afternoon. Joris Nieuwenhuis was undoubtedly the rider of the day. Mid-race, he launched a bold attack and forced his rivals to dig deep to bring him back. Joris didn’t give up easily. In the final lap, he executed everything perfectly. Michael Vanthourenhout briefly took over during a running section, but Joris stayed glued to his wheel. In the sprint, he came alongside the local rider but couldn’t quite overtake him, finishing second — a strong result that sends him home with plenty of motivation. Unfortunately, not everyone had luck on their side this weekend. Felipe Orts suffered a mechanical issue when his tire came off the rim, forcing him to run part of the course and ending his chances for a top finish. Still, with his 4th place on Friday, the Spaniard showed that his form is exactly where it needs to be. ©PhotoNews

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.

With the road- and gravel seasons almost coming to an end, this can only mean one thing: cyclocross is making it's return. Meulebeke took the honours this year, with the first Exact Cross of this campaign. Joris Nieuwenhuis and Felipe Orts lined up for our team and achieved encouraging results. Credits: Exact Cross High speed battle Despite the heavy rain that swept across Belgium on Saturday, this had no impact on the course at all. The parcours stayed very fast and it soon became clear that it would be difficult to make a difference. Joris Nieuwenhuis had a very good start in Meulebeke and looked strong. In the first half of the race, he was always attentive at the front and tried to make a breakaway a couple of times. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as guys like Vanthourenhout and Vandebosch closed the small gaps. Felipe Orts was sitting in the wheels in the first part of the race as he needed some more time to properly get into his rhythm. Credits: Exact Cross And Felipe did get into the rhythm. After big attacks from Vanthourenhout and Wyseure, it was Felipe who took his chance. He launched an attack an got away with Vanthourenhout and Sweeck. The three of them rode together for one and a half lap but eventually they got caught again. Immediately after they got caught, Wyseure slipped away. Our boys didn't have an answer at that moment and his teammates did a good job managing the rest of the group, resulting in a win for Wyseure. Joris and Felipe left it all out there in the final lap and they rolled in 4th and 8th respectively. "Especially in the beginning, I felt quite in control. The first race of the season is always a strange one because you don't know how the others are and you're always a bit checking and insecure in the race." Joris told us after the race. "A bit after halfway, I made a little mistake and I was a bit further in the bunch. Towards the end, I felt good but not great and a fourth is just good. I'm happy with that and happy to start again. The feeling is good." Felipe was glad that the season started as well: "Finally, the first race. I'm happy because I was strong during the second part of the race. I tried to battle for the win but 8th place it is in the end. I think it's a good result because I was in the fight for the win and we will try again in the next race in Ardooie."   Credits: Dries Vandecasteele October schedule Next up for Felipe Orts are: 16/10 - Kermiscross Ardooie 19/10 - Superprestige Ruddervoorde 21/10 - Nacht van Woerden 25/10 - Exact Cross Heerde 26/10 - Superprestige Overijse Joris will focus on all the classification races during the rest of the season. In october, he will do the following races: 19/10 - Superprestige Ruddervoorde 25/10 - Exact Cross Heerde 26/10 - Superprestige Overijse

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! "

This past weekend, it was time for the big season finale of the Gravel Earth Series. Our riders headed over to Ponts in Catalonia for this prestigious event where all the big hitters from the gravel scene were present. Credits: Roger Salanova, Ranxo Gravel & Gravel Earth Series However, the build up to the race hasn’t been the smoothest. On Wednesday, Nicole Frain got sick and also Daan Soete picked up a cold in the past week. In consultation with the team, both decided that it’s better to skip this race. Was left for Ridley Racing Team: Aaron Van Der Beken. Our young gun is in his first gravel season and he made great strides throughout the year. In his first months, he was progressing race after race with a great 22nd position at Unbound as a highlight. After the little post Unbound break, Aaron has been achieving strong results with four top 10 finishes and he was eager to add another top 10 in Catalonia. In Ranxo Gravel, the riders had to tackle 160 kilometres and 2000 meters of altitude. Straight after the start, there was a steep 5 kilometre climb which immediately caused some explosions in the peloton. A group of 10 riders managed to break away but Aaron decided to follow his own pacing for the first bit of the race. This strategy gave him the possibility to really start pushing after the climb and pick up a lot of riders. Another important aspect of gravel racing is to get the feeding right. In Ranxo Gravel, there was only one feed station so we saw different strategies. Some riders opted for a camelbag, Aaron chose for two big bottles of 1 liter. Disadvantage from this strategy is that you can lose a bottle in rocky downhills and that’s exactly what happened. Luckily, he did catch new bottles at the feed zone and he could continue his chase to the front of the race. Credits: Roger Salanova, Ranxo Gravel & Gravel Earth Series Aaron was joined in this chase by Mattia De Marchi. Mattia is a legend of the sport and the two of them worked very good together during the last 60k of the race. In the battle for the win, we saw a great battle between Magnus Bak and Wout Alleman, with the latter clearing the final sprint. In the mean time, Aaron and Mattia raced for fifth and sixt position and Mattia just edged out Aaron in their final push. Next weekend, cyclocross makes it return and Joris Nieuwenhuis and Felipe Orts will start their competition in Meulebeke. Our gravel squad won't race in the upcoming weekend and they fully focus on the World Championship Gravel in South-Limburg on 11 and 12 October. What is Gravel Earth Series? The Gravel Earth Series are a string of events that are held over the whole world and have a primary focus of connecting cyclists, nature and culture. The races are held in the most beautiful landscapes which makes it a unique experience for the riders. In addition, there is also a classification attached. Over a minimum of four mandatory races, the four best results are counted towards the ranking. This season's winners are Magnus Bak and Rosa Klöser. Aaron finished the Gravel Earth Series in 20th position. Daan and Nicole lose their ranking because they didn't complete Ranxo Gravel.

Sea Otter Europe turned into an outstanding weekend for the Ridley Racing Team! With wins by both Daan Soete and Nicole Frain, the team delivered a perfect performance in Catalonia. Sea Otter Europe has become a classic on the calendar and attracted a strong field to Girona. Daan faced tough competition, including French champion Dorian Godon, teammate Stan Dewulf, Romain Bardet, and gravel specialist Petr Vakoč. After more than 100 kilometers, the race came down to a duel between Soete and Godon. In a strong finale, Daan came out on top and raised his arms in victory. Nicole in top form After her win at Houffa Gravel and a second place at 66 Degrés Sud, Nicole Frain started in Catalonia with confidence. She impressed on the hilly course and launched an attack together with Esmée Peperkamp. Her relentless pace proved decisive: no one could follow. Closest chaser Emile Morier finished just under six minutes behind. With this victory, Nicole secured the overall title and capped off a successful season. Nicole: "I started the event highly motivated and admittedly a bit nervous. It was important to achieve a strong result, and I’m very pleased that it worked out. The course was challenging—hot, rough, and rocky—which are exactly the conditions I enjoy. Together with Esmée Peperkamp, I broke away early on the first climb. Midway through the lap, I found myself in the solo lead and focused on maintaining my rhythm and holding off the rest of the field. Being alone at the front has recently become my strength, and crossing the finish line solo was a fantastic feeling." It was also exciting to hear that my teammate Daan Soete secured the win in his race. It was an excellent day for the Ridley Racing Team." Daan: "I started the opening climb at my own pace and found myself in a group that stayed consistently 20 to 30 seconds behind the front group. We could see them the whole time, which kept us motivated and working well together to close the gap. Once we made the catch, the road went straight back uphill. I couldn’t quite follow the best climbers, but I managed to limit the damage and close the gap again on the descents. On a long false-flat climb, I broke away with Hans Becking, and only the WorldTour riders (Dorian Godon, Stan Dewulf, Peter Vakoc, Romain Bardet) were able to come back to us. Later in the descent, I put them under pressure and only Godon and Becking were able to follow me down. Godon and I worked well together, and we rode the final 15 km as a duo. In the end, I managed to win the sprint." With the double win in Girona, the Ridley Racing Team demonstrates once again its dominance and consistency in the international gravel scene. Photos: AMJ Motorsport, Aurélien Coquil, Miquel Matas, Yana Kokhan, Zubiko Photo

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

Last weekend, our riders were in action at two very different venues. Aaron Van der Beken, Daan Soete, and Nicole Frain lined up at La Monsterrato in Italy, while Violette Neza competed at the African Gravel Championships in Namibia. Both races brought strong performances and new highlights for the team. La Monsterrato, first held as a UCI Gravel event in 2022, has quickly built an outstanding reputation. Set in the Monferrato wine region of Piedmont, home of writer Umberto Eco and known in cycling for its Strade Bianche. The race offers a unique blend of history, culture, and sporting challenge. For Aaron Van der Beken, the event marked another step forward in his steady progression since Unbound. Recent results included 18th at Eislek Gravel Luxembourg, 12th at Gravel One Fifty, 11th at The Rift, and 10th at the Belgian Championships. In Italy, despite not feeling at his very best, he delivered a strong 10th place finish, with no issues from his recent injuries. Teammate Daan Soete followed in 21st position. Nicole Frain delivered one of her strongest rides of the season. Building on her impressive performances in Sweden, she entered the race with confidence. A fierce head-to-head battle developed with UAE Team ADQ’s Erica Magnaldi. Ultimately, the Italian rider proved strongest on the climbs, and Nicole secured an excellent second place. Both Frain and her European teammates now turn their attention to Houffa Gravel in Belgium, host of next year’s European Championships. “I went into the race targeting the win, but Erica had the upper hand on the late climbs, exactly where I had hoped to make my move,” Frain explained afterwards. “From that point, it was a solo ride to the finish, giving everything I had. This course really suited me, and I enjoyed the race. I also want to thank the Lützelschwab family for their support on the day. Moments like that show the real spirit of gravel racing.” African Gravel Championships: Near-Podium for Violette Meanwhile, in Namibia, Violette Neza represented the team at the inaugural African Gravel Championships—the Khomas100, part of the UCI Gravel World Series. A puncture forced her into a long solo chase under the harsh African sun and wind. Despite the setback, she fought back impressively, finishing just two seconds short of the podium in 4th place. “It was an honor to compete in the very first African Gravel Championship,” Neza said. “I gave everything I had, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough on the day. Still, it was a fantastic experience, and I’m grateful for the support I received in Namibia, which truly felt like a home away from home.” Her focus now shifts to the Road World Championships, which will take place in her home country. Photo credit: Matteo Grava