The 2025–2026 cyclocross season is in full swing, and Joris Nieuwenhuis is one of the strongest riders in the peloton. In the first two months, he won three televised races and leads the standings in the X2O Badkamers Trophy. His form is the result of a clear summer plan with one goal: Unbound Gravel. We documented his entire preparation. Now available on our YouTube channel. The preceding winter had a difficult start. A shingles infection sidelined Nieuwenhuis for months, forcing him to watch his competitors from the couch. After a training month in Spain, he returned at the Dutch Cyclocross Championships. With no expectations, he immediately took the bronze medal. That boost gave him confidence. He went on to win in Middelkerke and Oostmalle as well. After a short rest period, he shifted his focus entirely to his summer campaign. Unbound Gravel became the highlight of that campaign. His first participation in 2024, without proper preparation, fueled his ambition. In 2025 he wanted to return to Emporia, Kansas for a top result. Together with his coaches and experts, he worked on every performance factor. Koen de Haan optimized his training schedule, Rob van der Werf developed his nutrition plan, and Yannick Balk worked on his mental preparation. At the Aero Performance Lab in Beringen, he carried out extensive testing in both the wind tunnel and the climate chamber to be perfectly prepared at the start. How that preparation — and the race itself — unfolded is shown in the documentary  “The Unbound Journey – Chasing Gravel” . The film highlights Joris’ passion for music, his love for off-road racing, pushing boundaries, and the highs and lows of life as a pro athlete. As a devoted music lover with his own studio, he composed part of the soundtrack himself. It adds a personal touch and offers a glimpse into a lesser-known side of Nieuwenhuis. Ridley ASTR RS Throughout the entire summer campaign, Nieuwenhuis and his Ridley Racing Team teammates rode the ASTR RS, the gravel bike we launched in October 2024. This performance-focused bike is designed for modern gravel racing and combines an aero-to-weight frame with 52 mm tire clearance. Aaron Van der Beken, Daan Soete, and Nicole Frain have already achieved impressive victories with it.

After last week's World Cup Season opener in Tabor, the peloton moved to Flamanville for the second round. In Tabor, Joris finished third and had a solid start of the World Cup campaign. In the West of France, the route is marked around the beautiful castle of Flamanville. Only Joris was at the start, Felipe Orts had a one-week break. Credits: Photonews Missed start For the first time this season, Joris could start on the first row again. Unfortunately, Joris was caught napping when the lights went out. On the good side: the Flamanville track was pretty wide so he was able to overtake a lot of riders immediately after the start and in the second lap, Joris was at the front of the race. It quickly became clear that he and Nys were the strongest men in the race. They were joined by Van der Haar and Vandeputte during the first real breakaway, which allowed Nys and Van der Haar to play the team game. Van der Haar got away at a certain point, but Joris could reel him back in. Misfortune in lap 7 A bit later, it was Nys who made a little mistake and went down. Van der Haar, however, dropped the pace and Nys could return to the front of the race. In the mean time, Cameron Mason and Laurens Sweeck made it to the front group as well and we were looking to dive into the final with 6 riders. Unfortunately, Joris had a chain drop with two laps to go which caught him out of the final battle for victory. Nys didn't hesitate and went full gas for the victory. A very unfortunate incident, as things were looking very promising for Joris. In the end, he finished in sixth position. Credits: Photonews Italia Next week, we're off to Sardinia, Italy for the third race of the World Cup. Last year was intended to be the first race on the Italian island, but due to a severe storm, the race was cancelled on race day. Felipe will skip this one, Joris starts the race in fourth place in the general classification.

With the busiest period of the cyclocross season approaching fast, it was time to kick off the UCI World Cup season. This edition kicks off with three foreign races, starting in Tabor, Czech Republic. The weather maps indicated a probability of snowfall, but ultimately it did not stick and it mainly turned out to be a very slippery lap. Credits: Photonews After a stellar weekend with a win and a podium, Joris Nieuwenhuis was one of the favourites going into this race. Both Felipe and him had to start from the second row based on the UCI ranking. Joris didn't had any trouble making up positions and quickly got into the fourth spot. Felipe watched from a little further back in the bunch. However, the pace was extremely high, as Nys took the lead after just half a lap and only Joris was able to keep up. Joris was capable of taking over and wanted to put pressure on Nys, but in doing so he made a mistake and fell. Nys didn't hesitate and went all in to create a decisive gap. Joris did what he could, but it soon became clear that Nys was the strongest today. Competing for second place, Joris had to battle it out with Vanthourenhout, Verstrynge, Sweeck, and Michels. Vanthourenhout crashed hard on tarmac and Verstrynge fell in the penultimate lap, holding Nieuwenhuis up as well. Sweeck got a little gap after this incident and took the runner up spot in Tabor. Joris finished third and immediately takes some big points for the general classification. Credits: Photonews Felipe Orts takes a breather in Spain Felipe finished the race with some mixed feelings in 15th position. "I think it wasn't a bad day, but it wasn't a spectacular one either! I lacked confidence in the technical sections with the ice, which kept me from a good race within the top 10." Felipe travels back to Spain right now, where he takes a short race break after the first two months of the season. After this, he'll make his return in Namur for the fourth race of the World Cup. Joris will keep racing and he is doing both Flamanville (France) and Terralba (Sardinia, Italy) in the upcoming weeks.

Another double cyclocross weekender was on schedule. On Saturday, we went to Merksplas Kolonie for the "Strawberry" cross. On Sunday, Hamme was the place to be for the "Flandrien" cross. Joris was chasing his 10th pro win, meanwhile Felipe was looking for another strong result. Credits: Photonews Impressive win after early misfortune With quite some rain in Belgium over the weekend, we were curious to see how that would affect both courses. In Merksplas, it still turned out to be a pretty fast track with a slippery top layer of mud. It really proved to be slippery as Joris crashed early on in the race. There was no physical damage, but during the fall, a boa had come loose from his shoe. For a moment, he considered changing shoes, but that would have ruined the race completely so he decided to push through. The bad luck wasn't over yet, as in the second lap his chain fell off during a racing incident. Once Joris fixed the chain, he had to restart with a 30-second deficit. Thankfully, Felipe was well positioned at the front and he could hold the group together a tiny bit as Joris was chasing really hard. In no time, he overtook rider after rider and it was clear that he was one of the strongest riders of the day. By lap 4, he had already caught up with the leading group again. He tried to recover as much as possible from this effort and still kept something up his sleeve for the last two laps. He went to the lead position and just kept powering away and no one was able to follow. Nys made one last attempt, but while Joris flew through the sandpit, Nys got completely stuck. Joris finished steadily and won the cross in Merksplas in impressive fashion. Felipe notched up his third top 10 result in a row and proves that he is back where he belongs. Joris did a good job for the overall standings as well, as Vanthourenhout didn't have his best day out. Vandeputte overtakes him as the leader in the Superprestige and Joris closes in on third place. The next Superprestige race is in Zolder in over a month's time. Credits: FL!TZ Productions Podium in Hamme The race in Hamme on Sunday was part of the X2O Badkamers Trofee, which Joris is leading after the first two races. Just like on Saturday, the start did not go smoothly this time either. In the first corner, Joris was hit by other riders and fell. He had to restart at the very back of the field and on top of that, his handlebars were bent from the fall. Felipe didn't miss his start and and he took away some crucial bonification seconds from Joris' rivals after one lap. Joris began his long journey to the front, and once again that went very well. After a few laps, he caught up with Felipe on the start finish straight, where both men demonstrated their excellent relationship. Felipe took the lead and quickly pulled Joris along in his slipstream. Wonderful team spirit! At the front of the race, Nys and Mason got away from the other riders and also Joris had a hard time chasing them. It became clear that he had hurt his knee in the crash, which did not help his pursuit. It was a battle against van der Haar for the final podium spot, and it was Joris who ultimately prevailed. Excellent damage control after another eventful race. Felipe battled with Vandeputte, Sweeck and Michels for a nice place of honour and ultimately finished in 7th place. Strong result following the teamwork demonstrated earlier. Joris stays in the lead of GC with 24 seconds ahead of Cameron Mason and 42 seconds ahead of Thibau Nys. Credits: Photonews World Cup start Next week, the World Cup kicks off in Tabor, Czech Republic. Both Joris and Felipe will line up and weather forecasts are showing that it might be a race in the snow. Felipe takes a short breather after Tabor and will skip Flamanville and Cabras. He will return to racing action in Namur.

On Armistice Day, the traditional Jaarmarktcross in Niel took place once again. The course — featuring thousands of bags of river sand (poured into a massive sandbox), short loops up and down the dikes, and plenty of paved sections — provided the familiar mix that defines this classic in the Rupel region, just south of Antwerp. It turned into a spectacular race in which Felipe Orts completed a remarkable comeback to finish in 5th place. Photo News After course reconnaissance, it was clear that our riders were ready for this cyclocross classic. Felipe regained confidence after a solid 9th place at the European Championships in Lombardsijde, while Joris Nieuwenhuis looked to bounce back from a difficult weekend. Sports director Richard Groenendaal also reflected on the Europeans: “Some riders looked great in the warm-up but struggled during the race. Others who were frustrated in the sand beforehand suddenly flew once the race began. That’s cyclocross: it’s often a mental game as much as a physical one.” At the start, Felipe was boxed in on the right side of the road and lost ground, while Joris launched well and even took control of the race early on. However, his momentum was abruptly halted when he dropped from first to fifteenth place. His father later confirmed a crash, and it turned out Joris also suffered a chain issue. Meanwhile, Felipe was moving in the opposite direction, climbing steadily through the field. Starting outside the top 20, he overtook rider after rider, moving into the top 10 and eventually into 5th position. Despite his impressive pace, he narrowly missed joining the leading group. Behind the front trio and Emiel Verstrynge, Felipe secured 5th place, while Joris recovered strongly after his setbacks to finish 8th. In the Superprestige standings, Joris limited the damage and now sits joint 3rd overall. Felipe Orts: “I lost a lot of positions at the start, but once I got into my rhythm, I was riding really fast. Fifth place is fine, though under normal circumstances I can fight for the podium. I’m feeling fresh again and motivated for the upcoming races. Last weekend I felt weak, but no illness was found, thankfully things are back to normal now. I’ve marked Merksplas and Tabor as key goals before a short recovery break.” Joris Nieuwenhuis: “I had a good start and felt strong. But after a small mistake my chain came off and got jammed, and I also crashed. I needed a few laps to refocus, but I found my rhythm again towards the end. It wasn’t my best race, but luckily the damage from the crash is minor.”

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