Violette Neza joins the Ridley Racing Team to pursue her Cycling Dream and inspire Future Champions

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.”