Joris Nieuwenhuis, the Dutch vice-world champion in cyclocross, has officially been unveiled as the leader of the newly formed Ridley Racing Team. The 28-year-old announced his transfer following two seasons with Baloise Trek Lions, explaining that he hadn’t initially planned to leave but was forced to seek new opportunities after contract negotiations with his former team fell through.
“I wasn’t planning to leave Baloise Trek Lions,” Nieuwenhuis told reporters, “but they couldn’t renegotiate my contract. Ridley came forward with a solid proposal, and that’s what convinced me to make the move.”
Ridley Racing Team, starting from scratch, is set to make its debut at the Be-Mine Cross in Beringen next week, marking the start of the new cyclocross season. Nieuwenhuis signed a two-year deal with the team and will act as their key rider across cyclocross, gravel, and mountain bike events.
“The ball started rolling in the spring when the cyclocross season was over,” he explained. “Jochim Aerts, the CEO of Ridley, personally reached out. They had a clear plan, and having Richard Groenendaal lead the team was what sealed the deal for me.”
Groenendaal, a former world champion himself, will take on the role of team manager for the Ridley outfit. Nieuwenhuis has previous experience working with him during his early years at Rabobank, adding an extra layer of trust. “It gave me a lot of confidence. It was more than just, ‘Here’s a bag of money, now ride.’”
Reflecting on his time with Baloise Trek Lions, Nieuwenhuis explained that although both he and the team had great success, the financial structure of the team made it impossible to stay. Baloise Trek Lions operates a bonus-based payment system, and despite his second-place finish at the World Championships, his contract couldn’t be improved.
Photo Credit: Massimo Fulgenzi/SCA/Cor Vos“I didn’t want to leave the team, but there were no options to continue,” he admitted. “It was agreed that we would renegotiate if I performed well on the world stage. I finished second, but during negotiations, it quickly became apparent that it wasn’t possible.”
His time with the team, however, left no bitterness. “Everyone performed well last year, and I was the rider who made the biggest leap, so I was in line for the biggest improvement. It just didn’t work out, but there’s no bad blood. I’m still on good terms with everyone.”
Looking ahead, Nieuwenhuis is excited about the broader scope of Ridley’s off-road projects, which extend beyond cyclocross to gravel and mountain bike events. While his primary focus remains on cyclocross, he’s keen to explore these new disciplines as well.
“The combination with gravel racing also appeals to me,” he said. Unfortunately, due to illness, Nieuwenhuis was unable to take part in the World Championships in Leuven, which he had originally planned to race. “I had to withdraw, but I hope to be at the cyclocross opener in Beringen next week.”
After finishing second in both the World Cup and Superprestige series last season, Nieuwenhuis has set his sights on winning a series title this year. “I’d really like to win a classification,” he shared. “Last year, I came second in both the World Cup and the Superprestige. I just missed out, mainly because I didn’t make the top 10 in a few races early on.”
His performance was hindered by a recurring issue with his lower back, but Nieuwenhuis is optimistic about his chances this season. “My back is under better control now, and I’ve been able to focus fully on the upcoming cyclocross season throughout the summer.”
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
