Ridley’s Diamond
It's 2002, and the new millennium has just begun. The era of aluminium has ended and the rise of carbon is unstoppable. The innovators of that time were struggling with the fragility of carbon frames. Forever eager to innovate, Ridley went looking for solutions.
The Damocles was launched a year later. It was Ridley’s first carbon racer, and featured the iconic diamond shape. This bike would determine the DNA of Ridley for almost a decade.
Thanks to the collaboration with Davitamon Lotto (today Lotto Soudal), the bike never stopped evolving. Robbie McEwen sprinted to numerous victories during the first two years. Pippo Pozzato (Katusha) also loved the bike.
The Damocles evolved into the Fenix in 2013, and later into the Fenix SL and Fenix SL Disc. Every time the iconic diamond-shaped down tube remained as a feature. This bike was born to conquer the terrible Belgian roads covered in cobblestones.
Milestones:
Tour de France
Our first National Champ, our First Tour and three stage wins straight away. Robbie McEwen made the dreams of our CEO come true by winning three times in both the Tour and the Giro during the first year alone.
E3 Prijs Harelbeke
Tom Boonen attacks on the Knokteberg, but Pippo Pozzato follows. It's soon clear that they will battle for the win. Pozzato beats Boonen in a straightforward sprint and wins the E3 Prijs on the Damocles.
Italian Champ
Pozzato takes the national tricolour after a difficult race. This entitles him to go to the Tour de France with a unique bike and outfit.
Launch of Fenix C
The Fenix C is ready to tackle Paris-Roubaix for the first time. The diamond shape is retained, but this Fenix received major upgrades compared to the Damocles.
Launch of Fenix SL
Only two years after the Fenix C, we launched the Fenix SL. With finer rear stays, a curved top tube and narrower front fork, we mainly focused on greater comfort.
Tour de France
Stage 15 should be one for the sprinters, but with a second cat. climb at 60 kilometres from the finish and already 14 race days in the book, a breakaway can always surprise. André Greipel chose the Fenix SL for easier climbing and defeated Degenkolb, Kristoff and Sagan.
Vuelta a Espana
An entire day in a two-man breakaway and still the peloton fails to catch Jelle Wallays. Wallays took a highly impressive stage win.
Today
the Fenix SL Disc is the most popular bike among all Ridley cyclists.
