Sandman Daan Soete crowns himself Belgian beachrace champion
Our sandman Daan Soete crowned himself Belgian beachrace champion last Sunday in Bredene! Ridley Racing Team aims to shine in all offroad disciplines, and when the rider from the Kempen showed interest in this championship, we ensured he had a true beachracer 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 Beachrace 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.
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 Beachrace 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 beachracer. 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 beachracer 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 beachracer – 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 beachracer 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 beachrace 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.
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 beachracer 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 beachrace 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?
