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.
The Belgian gravel championship took place in the Kempen region for the third year in a row. After Turnhout and Westerlo, this year the honor fell to Grobbendonk, with start and finish on the Astridplein. A fifty-kilometer loop through the Lovenhoek nature reserve and the Den Troon military domain offered a mix of fast sections and technical passages, letting the wheat separate itself from the chaff.
That separation happened fairly early in the race. Soete was part of a five-rider lead group that opened a gap of nearly a minute. Alongside Soete, the group also included Stan Van Tricht, Jo Pirotte, Witse Meeussen, and Jarno Bellens. Only one rider was able to bridge across: none other than Wout van Aert. Pirotte later had to drop off the front. That left them going into the final lap with five riders.
The Belgian gravel championship took place in the Kempen region for the third year in a row. After Turnhout and Westerlo, this year the honor fell to Grobbendonk, with start and finish on the Astridplein. A fifty-kilometer loop through the Lovenhoek nature reserve and the Den Troon military domain offered a mix of fast sections and technical passages, letting the wheat separate itself from the chaff.
That separation happened fairly early in the race. Soete was part of a five-rider lead group that opened a gap of nearly a minute. Alongside Soete, the group also included Stan Van Tricht, Jo Pirotte, Witse Meeussen, and Jarno Bellens. Only one rider was able to bridge across: none other than Wout van Aert. Pirotte later had to drop off the front. That left them going into the final lap with five riders.
A dream scenario
Once the chasers (with Tim Merlier as the best-known name) had definitively been put out of contention, the leaders up front could start playing their cards. With 22 kilometers to go, Van Aert sensed his moment had come. Soete immediately jumped on his wheel and pushed everything he had to stay with him. For the other three leaders, it went just a touch too fast, leaving the pair from the Kempen in a dream scenario. Soete's childhood home sits just 200 meters from the course, and he knows these roads like the back of his hand. He even used to take the forest path on the route to cycle to primary school.
As so often before, the two boyhood friends from the Kempen rode on toward Grobbendonk together, but it never came down to a sprint. With just over 2 kilometers to go, cramps forced Van Aert to let his breakaway companion ride away from him. That's how Soete claimed victory in front of the massive hometown crowd: a dream come true. After crossing the line and on the podium, Van Aert shared in the celebration and was overjoyed for his training partner.
Soete rode the ASTR RS on Sunday. He already won Sea Otter on this machine last year, though this victory will likely rank even higher emotionally. A perfect Sunday!
Photos: Photo News
As so often before, the two boyhood friends from the Kempen rode on toward Grobbendonk together, but it never came down to a sprint. With just over 2 kilometers to go, cramps forced Van Aert to let his breakaway companion ride away from him. That's how Soete claimed victory in front of the massive hometown crowd: a dream come true. After crossing the line and on the podium, Van Aert shared in the celebration and was overjoyed for his training partner.
Soete rode the ASTR RS on Sunday. He already won Sea Otter on this machine last year, though this victory will likely rank even higher emotionally. A perfect Sunday!
Photos: Photo News
ASTR RS
The new standard for performance gravelThe 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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