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Ridley’s legacy in cyclocross and offroad racing spans decades, with over 20 titles to our name since the early 2000s. In 2024, we’re launching a new era with the creation of the Ridley Racing Team, our very first independently managed cyclocross team. Expanding beyond cyclocross, the team will also compete in the world’s premier gravel races, building on Ridley’s rich history of success.
Ridley’s journey in cyclocross began shortly after the turn of the century, with our sponsorship of the Palmans-Collstrop team. Mario De Clercq became our first World Champion, followed by an incredible run with the Fidea Cycling Team, where Bart Wellens, Erwin Vervecken, and Zdenek Stybar each captured rainbow jerseys. More recently, riders like Niels Albert, Wout van Aert, Tom Pidcock, Laurens Sweeck, Eli Iserbyt, and Michael Vanthourenhout have clinched prestigious titles on Ridley bikes.
While Ridley has long served as the bike sponsor for these champions, 2024 marks a pivotal shift. The Ridley Racing Team will be the first cyclocross team fully managed by Ridley, providing us with the ideal testing ground to innovate and perfect our bikes, including the X-Night RS, our latest flagship model.
The Team
The cyclocross collective will temporarily consist of four riders: Joris Nieuwenhuis (Netherlands), the current Dutch champion and vice world champion, Felipe Orts (Spain), the current six-time Spanish champion, Daan Soete (Belgium), and Lore Sas (Belgium). Joris, Felipe, and Daan will also compete in the gravel circuit, while Lore will remain connected to the Acrog-Tormans development team on the road.
Expert Management
To lead this ambitious new chapter, we’ve enlisted the expertise of Bob De Cnodder as Team Manager and Richard Groenendaal as Sports Director. Both bring deep experience and knowledge of cyclocross. De Cnodder will handle the practical support for our riders, while former World Champion Groenendaal will guide them during races and training.
Gravel Racing
The world of off-road cycling has evolved rapidly with the rise of gravel racing, and Ridley has been at the forefront of this exciting discipline. Our cyclocross heritage gave us a competitive edge in designing high-performance gravel bikes, and we capitalized on that with the Kanzo Fast, the world’s first performance gravel bike, followed by the game-changing ASTR RS.
We’ve already made our mark in the gravel scene, supporting the Classified Gravel Team, which achieved a 4th place finish at Unbound, courtesy of Piotr Havik. Now, the Ridley Racing Team will compete in the biggest gravel events, from the Traka to Unbound, reaffirming Ridley’s role as an off-road trendsetter. With our athletes constantly pushing the limits, Ridley continues to refine its bikes in this rapidly developing sport.
Collaboration with Bart Brentjens’ MTB Team
Ridley has been working with former Olympic champion Bart Brentjens’ mountain bike team for the past two years. In 2024, Ridley became the team’s second name sponsor, and the collaboration is set to grow even further. From now on, the KMC Ridley MTB Racing Team will operate under the umbrella of the Ridley Racing Team, signaling our commitment to mountain biking at the highest level.
A Vision for the Future
The launch of the Ridley Racing Team represents a significant step toward the future of off-road cycling. By creating the first professional gravel team, we once again demonstrate our role as trendsetters in the cycling world. Looking ahead, Ridley will also become a sponsor of Uno-X Mobility in road racing from 2025, in a partnership that will last for the next decade. The Belgian Bike Valley project in Beringen will continue to expand, with Ridley’s own off-road team serving as a clear signal of our ambition to remain at the forefront of the industry.
Quote from CEO Jochim Aerts:
“Cyclocross has always held a special place in our hearts. As a family business rooted in Belgium, our passion for cycling is intertwined with our heritage. We’ve enjoyed significant successes in the past, and with the Ridley Racing Team, we aim to achieve even greater heights—not only on our bikes but also under our brand. This team represents a pivotal milestone for us, but it is just the beginning. Over the coming years, we will further solidify our legacy in cyclocross and expand our presence in the gravel racing scene.”
Joris Nieuwenhuis
“Just a guy who rides bikes and enjoys nature”
Date of birth: February 11, 1996 (28 years old)
Residence: Zelhem (Netherlands)
UCI ranking: 2
Favorite cyclocross race: the classics
Favorite travel destination: Costa Rica
What you need to know: U23 world champion in
2017, elite world vice-champion in 2024, 4 years as a
WorldTour rider, 2 Tour de France appearances
What you might like to know: Guitar player, bookworm,
golf enthusiast (self-admittedly very mediocre),
online chess player (also mediocre), birdwatcher, proud beard owner since 2020 (when he couldn’t go to the barber for several months due to the Covid pandemic)
Daan Soete
“Never lose that bit of craziness!”
Date of birth: December 19, 1994
Residence: Grobbendonk
UCI ranking: 178
Favorite cyclocross race: Koksijde
Favorite travel destination: Kansas (hint)
What you need to know: Has been on the podium
of the Belgian Championships in three disciplines, member of the Kempen training group with Jan Bakelants and Wout van Aert, back after a winter full of bad luck
What you might like to know: Has a fan club in
Grobbendonk, single, in love with the sand of Koksijde
Felipe Orts
Mud devil from sunny Spain
Date of birth: April 1, 1995
Residence: La Vila Joiosa
UCI ranking: 9
Favorite cyclocross race: Benidorm
Favorite travel destination: Belgium
What you need to know: 6-time consecutive Spanish
champion, silver medalist at the U23 World Championships in 2017 (behind teammate Joris Nieuwenhuis), comes from his own cyclocross team
What you might like to know: Stayed for a while
with Sven Nys’ sister, now lives with a host family in Betekom, partner of Iris and proud owner of a dog named Bruno
Lore Sas
Girl power from the Kempen
Date of birth: December 14, 2005
Residence: Vosselaar
Favorite cyclocross race: Zonhoven
Favorite travel destination: France
What you need to know: Road racer with Acrog-Tormans, 4th at the Belgian Junior Championships in 2023, winner at Wiekevorst in 2024
What you might like to know: Psychology student
at Ghent University, her best friend is a border collie
named Léon (always present at the races)
X-Night RS
5th generation of our top cyclocross bike
Proven legacy: Winner of numerous championship titles
Geometry: Optimized for the unique demands of cyclocross racing:
Flat top tube for easy shouldering
Higher bottom bracket for navigating through mud
Extra clearance between the rear wheel and frame for easy mud shedding
Race-ready: Used by every rider of the Ridley Racing Team in all cyclocross events
ASTR RS
The new benchmark for performance gravel riding
Ultralight frame: Weighs only 890 grams (size Medium), perfect for steep climbs
Tire clearance: Fits 52 mm tires (1x setup) and 47 mm tires (2x setup), ideal for rough terrain and enhanced grip
Geometry: Built for stability and speed, featuring a 71.5° head tube angle and a steeper 74° seat tube for improved climbing efficiency and power transfer
Race-ready: Developed in collaboration with the Classified Ridley Factory Team. Proven at Unbound Gravel with Piotr Havik’s impressive 4th place finish. Set to be used in future gravel races
