Last Saturday, the Italian gravel classic The Hills took place in Veneto, delivering an unforgettable and mud-soaked edition. Riders were barely recognizable under layers of dirt as they battled the elements. Daan finished in a fantastic 7th place, with Aaron following in an impressive 15th. Unfortunately, Nicole and Violette had a tougher day on the course. This marked the first Italian round of the Gravel Earth Series, an event spearheaded by accomplished gravel rider Mattia de Marchi. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Prosecco Hills—an area recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site—the race became a true test of endurance in brutal conditions. Photo: GravelEarth – The Hills After Turnhout Gravel last week, Daan had hoped for a race with less raw speed and more technical challenges. His wish was granted, and the Belgian rider thrived in Veneto. For much of the race, he was in contention for a podium spot, but in the final stretch, he couldn’t maintain the pace and had to settle for 7th place. Not far behind, Aaron fought his way to his best result of the season. Riding among elite names like Thomas De Gendt and Ramon Sinkeldam, he powered through to secure 15th place. Only in the last two kilometers did he have to concede his position to the group. Bad luck for our women Sadly, Nicole ran into bad luck. A crash early on forced her to straighten her handlebars, and the thick mud soon made shifting gears a challenge. When she was later taken down by a lapped age-group rider, she was forced to abandon the race due to back pain. Violette also faced setbacks—sand in her eyes caused her to veer off the course, ultimately leading to her withdrawal. Despite this, she remained positive: “The moment I was riding, I enjoyed every second,” she said. Next week, the action continues in Austria with the Wörthersee Gravel, a round of the UCI Gravel World Series.

This Sunday, the Kempen gravel festival was on the agenda in Turnhout. In this round of the UCI Gravel World Series, both Daan Soete (8th) and Nicole Frain (10th) secured strong top-ten finishes. Aaron finished in a respectable 25th place, while Violette made a successful debut for the team. A beautiful spring sun turned Bolero Turnhout Gravel into a high-speed race. In both the men's and women's categories, a large front group stayed together for a long time. Eventually, Danish rider Mads Würtz Schmidt managed to break away alongside Magnus Bak Klaris and Mathijs Loman. The 2015 U23 time trial world champion ultimately sprinted to victory. Daan competed in the peloton for 7th place and finished 8th. Aaron found himself in a second group halfway through the race and crossed the finish line in 25th place. The women's race was pure chaos. Starting behind the men, they quickly began catching some of the stragglers. In the end, it was Geerike Schreurs who, despite facing setbacks, rode to victory. Nicole was caught behind a crash in the final and finished 10th, just 15 seconds behind the winner. Violette set her own pace and crossed the finish line less than half an hour later. Atypical gravel race Daan Soete: "The race started at a really fast pace. After an hour, we had an average speed of over 40 km/h. That made it very hectic, with stones flying everywhere. If the whole season is like this, the paint on the frames won’t last long (laughs). In that sense, it was an atypical gravel race: after one lap, there were still fifty of us together. Because of all the jostling, it felt more like a road race. I’m already looking forward to the upcoming races, which will be tougher and where everyone will find their place more quickly." "I also noticed that I haven't fully regained my racing speed yet. I struggled particularly with short bursts of acceleration. My endurance is good, but with all the intervals, I could already feel my legs getting tired after one lap. Luckily, I managed to push through, but a podium finish was out of reach. I think this result was the best I could achieve today." Aaron Van der Beken: "I felt better than in Santa Vall. Turnhout is, of course, a fast and flat course, so I knew what to expect. In the sandy section, a rider in front of me lost his line and caused me to crash. From that point, I had to chase. I managed to maintain my pace and catch up with some riders, but this wasn’t the result I was aiming for." Nicole Frain: "It wasn’t quite the result I wanted, but it was a really tough course to make a big impact on the group. I tried to break away through the technical sections and singletrack, which I love, but it didn’t stick. Unfortunately, a crash on the singletrack (caused by a rider from the age groups) played a role in my final result, as it created a gap to the front four." Violette Neza: "I’m really happy. It was an amazing experience—my first big race ever. In the beginning, my legs weren’t with me; I think they were still on the plane flying to Europe. But in the second lap, my legs finally woke up, and I was pushing strong. There was a crash, and I got caught up in it as well. My handlebar bent, and I fell on my arm, with some pain in my knee. But it’s not too bad. I had a lot of fun, and it was a great experience. I’m looking forward to the next races!"

Ridley Racing Team proudly announces its seventh new addition. The Rwandan Violette Irakoze Neza (23) joins the ranks and will make her debut for the team this Sunday in the Bolero Turnhout Gravel. With this opportunity, Violette's dream of becoming a professional cyclist comes true. Ridley Racing Team provides her with the chance to focus 100% on training and racing. Furthermore, Violette will serve as a gravel ambassador on the African continent, where she aims to encourage women to take up cycling through her project, 'Komera NEWCT.'   Ridley Racing Team helps riders turn their dreams into reality. Last winter, Daan Soete was crowned Belgian beach race champion, while Felipe Orts secured a medal at the European Cyclocross Championships in his home country. Now, Violette also gets the chance to fully develop her potential as a professional rider. Once again, the team creates opportunities for young and international talent. Violette comes from the Kigali region, the cycling-mad capital of Rwanda. Since her debut in 2018, she has achieved several podium finishes in the national championships across various disciplines. She possesses exceptional talent, and with expert guidance from specialists like Richard Groenendaal, she will be able to reach her full potential.   In recent years, Violette has competed in major races worldwide, including the African Championships, Gorilla Gravel Race, Migration Gravel Race, Komoot Women’s Torino-Nice, the Giro-E, and the Traka. With Ridley Racing Team, she will race in events such as Turnhout Gravel, The Hills, Monaco Gravel Race, and the Traka—some of the biggest races where she can continue to grow as a cyclist.   An Inspiration   The factory team of bicycle manufacturer Ridley also carries a broader sporting mission. It aims to promote off-road disciplines globally and encourage enthusiasts to take up cycling. Cycling benefits both physical and mental health and serves as a sustainable alternative to car travel. The sport is also gaining momentum in Africa. Violette Neza’s transfer aligns with this vision, as Rwanda has become a major cycling nation and will even host the UCI Road World Championships in 2025.   In her home country, Violette has been a true inspiration for other cyclists, particularly young women. This ultimately led to the founding of Komera NEWCT, an initiative that organizes gatherings for women to develop new cycling skills and explore Rwanda together. The team also competes in races, already securing some impressive results. Through this project, young Rwandan women gain new opportunities in competitive cycling.   Violette’s contributions to cycling have not gone unnoticed by the UCI. The international cycling federation invited her to Hébergement Mon Séjour at its headquarters in Aigle, where she completed a coaching course. This experience helped her grow personally and better convey her message to African cycling talent.   Quotes   Violette Neza: “My dream is coming true with this team. In the past years, I had to manage everything on my own, but now I can fully focus on racing while receiving support for all other aspects. I hope to make significant progress and compete for victories in the biggest races in the world. Right now, I am still adjusting to everything, but I hope to reach full speed in the coming weeks. In this new chapter, I also hope to inspire young girls and show them that nothing is impossible if you truly believe in yourself!”   Richard Groenendaal: “Violette has been on our radar for a while, and we are delighted to officially welcome her. We believe in her potential as a rider and are confident that, with the best possible support, we can help her take the next steps in her career. With Nicole Frain, we already had an established name alongside our emerging talent Lore Sas. Now, we also have a third rider with a highly interesting profile. I am confident that we will achieve great success together with Violette.”

This past weekend marked our first race of the Gravel Earth Series, held in Sant Gregori (Girona), Spain, at the Santa Vall. Despite facing setbacks on the first day, Nicole Frain managed to secure a podium finish on the second day, placing sixth overall in the final standings. Santa Vall is a true gravel classic and serves as a first gathering for all enthusiastic gravel riders. We participated with three riders in Girona: Daan Soete, Nicole Frain, and our newest team member, Aaron Van der Beken, who made his debut in the team’s colors. Nicole experienced mechanical issues on the first day, forcing her into a long chase. She battled back successfully and, after riding solo for many kilometers, managed to claim an impressive sixth place. On the second day, she achieved a podium finish: “I learned from the previous day and thought I had just missed out on third at the line, but fortunately that wasn’t the case.” Nicole finished sixth overall in the standings. Our male riders also competed. Aaron admitted to making a few mistakes but still managed a respectable 28th place on Saturday. Daan, returning to racing after a few weeks of rest following his cyclo-cross season, wasn’t yet in top form and finished 39th on Saturday. On Sunday, Daan found his rhythm and secured a solid 12th place. Aaron made several steering errors and mentioned having too much air in his tires. He concluded with a 41st place in the second stage. Meanwhile, our cyclo-cross riders were also in action this weekend. Joris finished fifth on Saturday at the Waaslandcross and competed for the win all day Sunday, ultimately settling for silver behind Michael Vanthourenhout. Next week, he will compete in Oostmalle. Felipe wrapped up his season in style, finishing seventh and sixth in his races, further proving the progress he has made this year.

Ridley Racing Team proudly announces a new addition to its roster. Aaron Van der Beken will strengthen the team and take part in the most prestigious gravel races worldwide. The 24-year-old rider from the Flemish Ardennes endured a challenging year but is determined to reach his full potential in 2025. Growing up in Horebeke, the hills of the Flemish Ardennes served as Aaron’s regular training ground. He developed his skills at the traditional club ‘Onder Ons Parike’ and continued his progression with EFC-L&R Vulsteke and Lotto-Soudal U23. As an U23 rider, he competed in prestigious races such as the Giro Ciclistico d’Italia and the Tour de l’Avenir. A remarkable third place in the opening stage of the Ronde de l’Isard earned him a professional contract with Bingoal WB. Van der Beken reflects on two formative seasons as a pro, including a long breakaway in Nokere Koerse, participation in three Monuments, and strong results in national races. Unfortunately, his progress was hampered by physical issues. A worsening injury in his right leg eventually led to the diagnosis of iliac artery narrowing. He recovered swiftly from surgery but then faced a bacterial infection. Now fully recovered, Aaron is ready for a new challenge. Ridley Racing Team has full confidence in his talent and is giving him the opportunity to prove himself in international gravel races. In addition, Van der Beken will temporarily work as a bike fitter at the Performance Center of Bike Valley, under the guidance of Rik Verbrugghe. Aaron Van der Beken: "This past winter, I maintained my fitness in Spain, and my current power numbers are higher than ever. I am determined to prove this season that I belong in the professional peloton. Gravel racing is rapidly gaining importance, and with Ridley Racing Team, I have the chance to approach it in a highly professional way. I am confident this will lead to many highlights."

Last Saturday, Joris Nieuwenhuis claimed victory at the Noordzeecross in Middelkerke. The win on the Belgian coast marked his first triumph for Ridley Racing Team. Joris had been sidelined for months with shingles but recovered just in time for the Dutch National Championship. This new victory is the cherry on top of a highly successful winter campaign for the team! The Superprestige round in Middelkerke was only Joris’ sixth race of the season. His fresh legs proved advantageous in an exciting spectacle. Alongside Eli Iserbyt, he injected multiple bursts of pace into the race. Eventually, only Michael Vanthourenhout and Niels Vandeputte managed to stay in contention. In the final lap, Joris launched a long sprint, which was enough to secure the win. Felipe Orts was aiming for a strong result in the Superprestige standings. However, he never truly found his rhythm in Middelkerke and finished in 13th place. As a result, he secured sixth place overall in the Superprestige series—an impressive display of consistency following his eighth-place finish in the World Cup. Krawatencross On Sunday, Joris and Felipe also competed in the Krawatencross in Lille, part of the X2O Trophy. Felipe had a great start, while Joris spent much of the race chasing from behind. He only managed to join the front group in the closing stages but was unable to challenge for the top positions, ultimately settling for fifth place. Felipe was in the fight at the front until he was briefly halted by mechanical issues, though he still salvaged a tenth-place finish. Over the next two weeks, Joris will aim to capitalize on his strong form in the Waaslandcross, Brussels Universities Cyclocross, and the Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle. Felipe, meanwhile, will take a break after the Brussels race. Meanwhile, Daan Soete is already in full preparation for the start of the gravel season. Photo: Photo News

Last Sunday, the Cyclocross World Championships took place in Liévin, France. Under a beautiful winter sun, it turned into a true festival of the sport, featuring all the great champions of the discipline. Joris Nieuwenhuis ultimately just missed out on a medal, but after his long recovery period, this still feels like a small victory. Felipe secured a 12th-place finish. In the Pas-de-Calais region, spectators witnessed a one-man show from Mathieu van der Poel. Joris was briefly held up at the start but quickly managed to gain positions. After one lap, he was already riding in third place, with Felipe just two spots behind. From the back of the field, Wout van Aert powered his way through and overtook this group. Photo: Billy Lebelge What followed was a battle between Joris and Thibau Nys for the final podium spot. In the closing phase, the Belgian proved to be the stronger of the two. Joris finished in 4th place—an impressive result considering it was only his fifth cyclocross race of the season. After being forced to postpone his debut for the team for so long this winter, this performance truly feels like a victory. Further back, Felipe was fighting for a spot in the top ten. In the end, he came up against riders who had just a bit more freshness in their legs and had to settle for 12th place. After a long season, a period of rest will certainly be welcome, but first, Felipe aims to secure his 5th place in the Superprestige standings. The final round will take place this Saturday in Middelkerke. Photo: Billy Lebelge

A beautiful moment last Saturday after the World Cup race in Maasmechelen: father Laurens Nieuwenhuis with a wide smile and a pat on the back for his son Joris. The latter had just crossed the line in third place and joined Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert on the podium. This marks the full comeback of our Dutch team leader after a tough and challenging period. For a long time, it seemed like it wouldn’t be Joris’s winter. He was struck by shingles and had to watch from the sidelines as his teammates from Ridley Racing Team made a name for themselves. His debut in the World Cup race in Antwerp was postponed, and in the end, he could only return to competition at the Dutch Championship. Unexpectedly, he took home the bronze medal in Oisterwijk. Rising form Despite a disastrous start in Benidorm, Joris managed to secure an eighth place in his first World Cup race of the season. In Maasmechelen, he had a great start and even briefly took the lead. When Van der Poel unleashed his fury, Joris stuck to his own pace. Wout van Aert also accelerated beyond the Dutchman’s limits, but behind them, Joris proved to be the strongest. Third place was the best he could achieve. The following day in Hoogerheide, Joris slipped a few times but ultimately finished in eighth place. This performance gave him confidence for the upcoming World Championships in Liévin, his main goal for this season. Felipe 8th in World Cup Felipe managed to secure a top 10 finish in the World Cup this weekend. On Saturday, he didn’t have the best luck in Maasmechelen. Early in the race, he had to deal with a flat tire. The Spaniard fought his way back up the field, but made a few mistakes and finished in 15th place. Afterward, he felt some discomfort in his left hip and applied ice to the injury in the evening. In Hoogerheide, Felipe was still feeling the effects of his fall the previous day. In the end, he finished 14th, which was enough for 8th place in the overall standings. Felipe is maintaining the positive feeling from Saturday as he looks towards the World Championships, where he hopes to match or surpass his best-ever performance (last year he finished 10th)!

Sunday, January 12, was a crucial day for the team, with three different national championships on the calendar. Felipe Orts claimed his seventh consecutive Spanish title in As Pontes, while Joris Nieuwenhuis made his debut for the Ridley Racing Team and immediately secured a bronze medal at the Dutch National Championship in Oisterwijk. Meanwhile, Daan Soete battled his way to an impressive top-10 finish in Zolder. Plenty of positives to carry forward into the rest of the season! Understandably, all eyes in A Coruña were on Felipe. Earlier this season, he had already taken second place at the European Championship in the northwest of Spain. In the Galician mud, our Spanish star put on a masterclass. By the end, he had nearly lapped the entire field. His closest rival crossed the finish line almost a minute and a half behind the winner. For Joris, it was a special day for several reasons. First and foremost, it marked his debut with the team. After months on the sidelines due to shingles and the need for full recovery, he is clearly back on the rise. In Oisterwijk, he fought hard with Tibor Del Grosso and Pim Ronhaar for the title. Ultimately, he had to concede to his opponents, but the bronze medal was a rewarding consolation prize! Finally, Daan lined up at the iconic Circuit Zolder for the Belgian National Championship. His start was less than ideal, but he managed to hang on with the second group. Eventually, he even bridged the gap to the leaders before settling into his own rhythm. In the final lap, a top-10 spot was still up for grabs. Thanks to his powerful engine and a long sprint, Daan clinched this admirable result in the end. Copyright: David Pintens (Golazo) Road Season Kicks Off In Australia, Nicole Frain made her debut for the team—not in cyclocross, but in the Australian National Road Championship. The 2022 champion showed her strong form, finishing in 17th place. Later this week, she will compete in the Tour Down Under, representing the national team.

Next Sunday, January 12th, Nicole Frain will make her debut for Ridley Racing Team. She will line up for the Australian Road Championships in the heart of Perth. Following this, she will also participate in the Santos Tour Down Under, the very first race on the Women's World Tour calendar. This ensures Ridley Racing Team immediately competes at the highest level on the road. Ridley Racing Team aims to combine various cycling disciplines to create added value for its riders. Later this season, Nicole will focus on major gravel classics, but she also wants to build a strong foundation through a tailored road racing program. Additionally, she holds fond memories of the Australian Road Championships. In 2022, she made an all-or-nothing move with a late attack and claimed the title solo. That's why Nicole will be at the start line of her national championship on January 12th. The riders will cover 109 kilometers that day. Last year, she finished fifth in this prestigious race, which serves as the first notable event on the cycling calendar. National Team Ridley Racing Team does not have a full road racing roster. Nevertheless, Nicole expressed her ambition to compete in the Santos Tour Down Under. Last year, she finished 10th in the general classification, a proud achievement in front of her home crowd. Through the Australian national team, Nicole will have the opportunity to start this stage race. Ridley Racing Team is thrilled with this opportunity, which allows Nicole to gain essential racing rhythm. The Tour Down Under takes place from January 17th to 19th. On January 24th, Nicole will also participate in RADL GRVL, an Australian gravel classic where she narrowly missed victory last year, finishing second behind compatriot Brodie Chapman. After her Australian campaign, Nicole will travel to Belgium. Together with her teammates, she will then focus on the world's biggest gravel classics.

The past two weeks have been incredibly busy in the cyclocross world. Over the span of just 16 days, Felipe competed in no fewer than eight races, while Daan took part in five. Both riders managed to secure several impressive top finishes. This week, they are building towards the national championships, where Joris Nieuwenhuis will also make his return to racing. Felipe Shines in UCI World Cup Felipe is defending strong standings in both the UCI World Cup and the Superprestige series, which is why he focused heavily on these events. In Hulst, he delivered a fantastic performance, finishing second after an exciting duel with Niels Vandeputte. However, the sandy courses of Zonhoven (23rd) and Mol (8th) proved to be less suited to his style. On Boxing Day in Gavere (19th), Felipe's bike frame broke in two after a crash. He had to fight his way back into the race after this major setback. In Besançon, our Spanish favorite reconnected with a top-10 finish, and he continued this positive trend in Diegem (8th) and Gullegem (7th) despite increasing fatigue. The challenging mud race in Dendermonde was a tough finale to an intense period, but Felipe managed to secure a respectable 12th place. He currently stands 7th in the UCI World Cup and 5th in the Superprestige. In Galicia, he hopes to claim his seventh consecutive Spanish national title. Daan in the Spotlight After claiming the Belgian beach race title, Daan was riding high. In the sandy course of Mol, he felt completely at home, securing an impressive 9th place – his best result of the season in a major series race. In Loenhout, his close friend Wout van Aert made his cyclocross return, and Daan wasn’t going to miss out on the action. He finished in 12th place. Daan then placed 19th in Diegem and kicked off 2025 with a strong performance in Baal. After an excellent start, he boldly took the lead in the opening lap. In the end, he crossed the finish line in 11th place, a result he repeated in his beloved Koksijde. National Championships Await Daan is now preparing for the Belgian Championships, set to take place in Zolder, Limburg. Meanwhile, Joris Nieuwenhuis will represent the team at a third location, defending his title in Oisterwijk while also making his debut for the team. Joris has spent the winter fighting his way back to full fitness and has worked incredibly hard to be race-ready again. Fingers crossed for three stellar performances!

Our sandman Daan Soete crowned himself Belgian beach race champion last Sunday in Bredene! Ridley Racing Team aims to shine in all off-road disciplines, and when the rider from the Kempen showed interest in this championship, we ensured he had a true beach racer at his disposal. After 57 kilometers of battling the wind, Daan had the strongest final sprint. It’s also the first title for Ridley Racing Team. Daan has always had a special connection with sand throughout his career. Every year, he looks forward to sandy cyclocross races like Koksijde, Lille, and Oostmalle. It’s no coincidence that in early 2018, he stood on the podium of the Belgian Championship in Koksijde, alongside his close friend Wout van Aert and Laurens Sweeck. That was his only podium finish among the pros, but as a junior and under-23 rider, he claimed the tricolor jersey once in each category. After multiple podium finishes at the Belgian Mountain Bike Championship and a silver medal in the Belgian Gravel Championship earlier this year, he set his sights on the Belgian Beach Race Championship. Remarkably, he had never before participated in a race within this discipline. "It should suit me well, especially if there are a few technical zones where you can make a difference," he said last week during course reconnaissance. Thick tires Daan completed his reconnaissance on his brand-new beach racer. When he announced his ambition to compete in the championship and it became clear he had no World Cup cyclocross obligations, we immediately sprang into action. "I was able to assemble my beach racer myself. I communicated my preferences to mechanic Karel Lenaers, and the result was fantastic. The lightweight design is particularly impressive. It takes some getting used to because on a cyclocross bike, you can steer very quickly. On a beach racer – where you ride long straight stretches – it feels a bit stiffer. The focus here is, of course, on aerodynamics, which is why we also use a drop bar instead of a flat handlebar." When choosing tire pressure, Daan relied on his cyclocross experience. "I only put 0.7 bar in them. It does mean you risk hitting the rim on the breakwaters, but luckily, those in Bredene are in good shape." Daan's beach racer uses the frame of the Probe RS, Ridley's hardtail mountain bike. The final piece of the puzzle was executing the right race strategy. Filip Meirhaeghe, himself a former winner of the prestigious beach race in De Panne, advised Daan to stay sheltered and conserve as much energy as possible against the wind. The rider from Grobbendonk followed this advice. He survived the initial selection and saved his final move for the absolute final phase. In doing so, he gained several bike lengths on his last rival, Jasper Dejaegher, and held onto that lead until the finish line. Offroad dominance Ridley Racing Team is, of course, extremely proud of this national title. The team aims to excel in every off-road discipline, and this championship was a great opportunity. This winter, Daan will follow an exciting cyclocross program, and later this year, he will also participate in some top-level gravel races. The tricolor jersey is a wonderful conclusion to 2024 and great motivation heading into 2025! Need more sand?