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Belgian gravel champion Daan Soete receives ASTR RS in Belgian colours ahead of the European Gravel Championships

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Two weeks ago, Daan Soete became Belgian gravel champion in ‘his’ Grobbendonk. He won after an exciting finale in which he broke away together with his childhood friend Wout van Aert. This Sunday, the European Gravel Championships are on the agenda in Houffalize. As an extra reward for his fantastic title and as motivation heading into Sunday, we gave Daan a brand-new ASTR RS in Belgian colours.

Daan has quite a history with Belgian championships. He has already stood on the podium at the Belgian Championships in four different disciplines (gravel, MTB, cyclocross and beach racing), and when this championship came to Grobbendonk, he was highly motivated. He rode the perfect race on his home roads and, deep into the race, he and Wout van Aert managed to distance the competition. It was a chance for the two friends to relive their youth, when they fell in love with cycling on the same unpaved paths in the Kempen region. In the end, Daan took advantage of the Paris-Roubaix winner’s cramps and was able to celebrate in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

Championships

With victories in Heathland Gravel and the Belgian Championships, Daan has immediately established himself as one of the riders to watch at the European Gravel Championships in Houffalize, where he will be aiming for a strong result. Later this year, he will travel to Australia for the Gravel World Championships. At Ridley, we felt that was a good reason to renew his race bike once again. In consultation with Daan, we opted for an ASTR RS, as this aero-to-weight bike is the best match for the demanding conditions in the Belgian Ardennes. It also once again highlights how extensive our gravel range is, with the Kanzo Fast 2.0 also part of the line-up.

For the design, we also asked Daan for his input. The frame therefore features a subtle reference to Grobbendonk. We hope it gives him that little bit of extra strength when the going gets tough.

ASTR RS

The new standard for performance gravel

The ASTR RS is a high-end racing gravel bike that combines aerodynamics and light weight to meet all the needs of the modern gravel circuit. With a tyre clearance of 52 millimetres (1x setup), you are armed for the roughest terrain on the ASTR RS. The accompanying geometry stands for stability and speed.

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Daan Soete becomes Belgian gravel champion on the ASTR RS

Daan Soete becomes Belgian gravel champion on the ASTR RS

Daan Soete crowned his career with a Belgian title in gravel racing on home soil in Grobbendonk last Sunday. In the final, he broke away with his childhood friend Wout van Aert. On the unpaved roads where the two of them have ridden countless hours together, they steadily pulled away from their closest pursuers. Cramp trouble for Van Aert allowed Soete to break free and storm solo to the finish. After a Belgian title in beach racing, he has now also crowned himself Belgian gravel champion, further proof that the ASTR RS is built for winners.