Nicola Rutzou
Aussie pro rider Nicole Frain has focused on gravel riding this year, with outstanding results. Her latest victory came last weekend at Sea Otter Europe in Girona, where she crossed the line first riding for the Ridley Racing Team!
After her win at Houffa Gravel (Belgium) and a second place at 66 Degrés Sud (France), Nicole Frain started in Catalonia with confidence. She impressed on the hilly course and launched an attack together with Esmée Peperkamp. Her relentless pace proved decisive: no one could follow. Closest chaser Emile Morier finished just under six minutes behind. With this victory, Nicole secured the overall title and capped off a successful season.
“I was really motivated for this event and therefore also nervous. I wanted a good result, so it’s nice to see I somehow manifested that. The course was rough, hot, rocky and really combined all my favourite things.
“Esmée Peperkamp and I got away early on the first climb together after Esmée set a savage pace which I knew I had to stick with. I found myself in the solo lead halfway through the lap and settled into finding my rhythm and trying to hold an unknown gap on the rest of the girls. Being alone in races seems to be my thing lately, but crossing the line solo is also pretty cool.
“I was also stoked to finish and hear the news my teammate Daan Soete also took the win. A good day for Ridley Racing Team,” said Frain.
Alongside the Sea Otter race, the Sea Otter bike Show attracts 64,000 visitors over three days.
Nicola Rutzou – a long-time contributor and, most recently, the editor of Bicycling Australia. Nicola is a keen Sydney-based road cyclist who writes reviews, news, and destination pieces, as well as the weekly e-newsletter for BA online.
