Ridley and Niels Albert Bike Store Gift Personalized Bike to Retiring Footballer Toby Alderweireld
Footballer Toby Alderweireld has concluded his illustrious career at the age of 36. As a 2023 Golden Shoe winner and a prominent figure in Belgium's golden generation, his retirement marks the end of an era. To honor his achievements, Ridley, in collaboration with our dealer Niels Albert Bike Store, has presented him with a personalized Noah Fast bicycle.
This special gesture was initiated by Niels Albert, two-time cyclocross world champion and a close friend of Alderweireld. We immediately embraced the idea, celebrating a connection that transcends sporting disciplines. The Noah Fast, our latest flagship model launched earlier this year in partnership with the Uno-X team, quickly proved its prowess when Søren Wærenskjold clinched victory at the Omloop Nieuwsblad shortly after its release.
At our in-house paint shop in Beringen, no effort was spared to transform the bike into a true masterpiece. The red-and-white color scheme was a natural choice, reflecting the colors that have been central throughout Alderweireld's career—not only at Royal Antwerp but also during his time with Al-Duhail, Southampton, Atlético Madrid, Ajax, and, of course, the Belgian national team.
This special gesture was initiated by Niels Albert, two-time cyclocross world champion and a close friend of Alderweireld. We immediately embraced the idea, celebrating a connection that transcends sporting disciplines. The Noah Fast, our latest flagship model launched earlier this year in partnership with the Uno-X team, quickly proved its prowess when Søren Wærenskjold clinched victory at the Omloop Nieuwsblad shortly after its release.
At our in-house paint shop in Beringen, no effort was spared to transform the bike into a true masterpiece. The red-and-white color scheme was a natural choice, reflecting the colors that have been central throughout Alderweireld's career—not only at Royal Antwerp but also during his time with Al-Duhail, Southampton, Atlético Madrid, Ajax, and, of course, the Belgian national team.
Cathedral on the Fork
The bike incorporates several elements from Alderweireld's career. His jersey number 23 is displayed on the seat tube, and both the number and his initials "TA" appear on the front fork. Given his well-known tattoo of the Antwerp Cathedral on his forearm, it was fitting to include this monument on the bike's fork. The rear stays feature the number of caps he earned with the Red Devils—127 in total—and the timestamp "93’33", commemorating his decisive goal in the 2023 championship match for Antwerp against KRC Genk. Additionally, the top tube showcases an image of Alderweireld within the logo of "The Great Old".
Niels Albert, owner of Niels Albert Bike Store, commented:
"Toby is not only a fellow athlete but also a good friend. I understand how challenging it can be to stay active after a professional sports career. This Noah Fast is an invitation for him to maintain his fitness in the coming years. Cycling is less taxing on the body than running, so Toby will certainly benefit from it."
Gilian Lisens, Country Leader at Belgian Cycling Factory, added:
"While our performance bikes primarily cater to ambitious cyclists, we are always eager to do something special for Belgian sports icons. We also support rowing champion Ward Lemmelijn. When Niels proposed building a bike for Toby Alderweireld, we immediately took action. Thanks to our in-house paint shop, we were able to bring this project to life."
Niels Albert, owner of Niels Albert Bike Store, commented:
"Toby is not only a fellow athlete but also a good friend. I understand how challenging it can be to stay active after a professional sports career. This Noah Fast is an invitation for him to maintain his fitness in the coming years. Cycling is less taxing on the body than running, so Toby will certainly benefit from it."
Gilian Lisens, Country Leader at Belgian Cycling Factory, added:
"While our performance bikes primarily cater to ambitious cyclists, we are always eager to do something special for Belgian sports icons. We also support rowing champion Ward Lemmelijn. When Niels proposed building a bike for Toby Alderweireld, we immediately took action. Thanks to our in-house paint shop, we were able to bring this project to life."
Noah Fast
The fastest bike we’ve ever builtIn 2025, aerodynamics is everything! Ridley’s product developers started with a blank slate for the third generation of the Noah Fast. The result is a 100% aero bike. At a speed of 50 kilometers per hour, the Noah Fast is 8.5 watts faster than its predecessor. This underscores that aerodynamics are rooted in Ridley’s DNA.
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