Emporia, Kansas – The Ridley Racing Team traveled to the United States with one goal: to perform during the most iconic gravel race. The days leading up to the race were dedicated to reconnaissance, training, and fine-tuning. Endless gravel roads, coffee stops, and test kilometers formed the backdrop of the final preparations. The legs felt strong, ready for Unbound Gravel.
📸 Images: Ridley Racing Team
Race Recap
200 Miles Flint Hills Grit
The start of Unbound Gravel was, as always, brutal and chaotic. Yet the Ridley Racing Team managed to position themselves quickly. Daan Soete rode an impressive race. His resilience was rewarded with a 13th place finish, immediately making him the best Belgian of the day. Together with Joris Nieuwenhuis, who rode in the top five for a long time, he formed a Belgian-Dutch enclave that challenged the world's elite. The warm conditions took their toll, but Joris held strong and crossed the finish line shortly after Daan in 18th place.
For Aaron Van der Beken, it was his Unbound debut, and what a debut it was. He rode a consistent, calculated race and finished with a strong 22nd place. Felipe Ortz faced mechanical issues in the opening phase but showed tremendous perseverance, fighting his way back into the race to finish in 64th place. Nicole Frain demonstrated she was in top form before a crash prematurely ended her day, but her attacking style and confidence on the bike made a lasting impression.
Unbound Gravel
13th place - 08:54:39
Unbound Gravel
18th place - 08:54:40
Unbound Gravel
22th place - 08:59:23
