Ridley's national cyclocross champions

For years, 27-year-old Eli Iserbyt has been Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal's showpiece and a guarantee of success. After a European title in 2020, he captured the Belgian tricolour in Meulebeke in early 2024. After two world titles, two Belgian titles and two youth European titles, this championship was the culmination of years of hard work. Eli already won the first World Cup race in Antwerp this season and was also third on the podium of the European Championships.

The reigning champion of the Netherlands unfortunately did not yet appear in action on our bikes this year. After all, Joris Nieuwenhuis of Ridley Racing Team contracted zona and subsequently struggled with the after-effects of this skin disease. The 28-year-old rider became his country's champion in Hoogeveen last year and then also crowned himself vice-world champion. In youth, he was a true collector of jerseys, including a world title in the underpinnings in 2017. We hope he gets to show his original champion's jersey to the general public this year.

In autumn 2024, Felipe Orts Lloret (29) became a true crowd favourite. At Ridley Racing Team, he took a big step forward. At the European Championships in his own country, he crowned himself a silver medallist and subsequently collected podium places in the major cyclo-cross races. Domestically, he has now been Spanish champion six times in a row. Almost single-handedly, the cyclo-cross rider from Alicante put his region on the cyclo-cross map!

Even though she is barely 21 years old, Kristyna Zemanova can already call herself champion of the Czech Republic. At the beginning of the season, she prolonged the title after also being the best in 2022 and 2023. The Czech from the Brilon Racing Team MB also experienced a highlight a few weeks later by finishing 2nd in front of her own people at the World Championships for Under-23s. This season, unfortunately, she is somewhat slowed down by post-covid.

The British field champion can also be admired on a Ridley this year. 25-year-old Anna Kay won her first national title with the pros in Falkirk. Also in 2019, she was already on the podium between two greats (Niki Brammeier and Helen Wyman). The Proximus-Cyclis-Alphamotorhomes CT rider can be admired on the bike both in her team's pink colours and in the special British colours matching her jersey.

From season 2024-2025, Polish champion Marek Konwa will ride a beautiful Ridley. The 34-year-old multiple winner has been the best in his country for 12 years in a row and is pretty much experiencing a second youth. Last year he also finished 22nd at the World Cup, while this season he has already been victorious in Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Photos courtesy of PhotoNews, Gaëtan Flamme & Michal Lakomý