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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
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