A successful Sea Otter Europe 2026 for Belgian Cycling Factory

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After an action-packed weekend in Girona, Belgian Cycling Factory can look back on a successful edition of Sea Otter Europe. From a busy exhibition stand and award-winning bikes to strong performances in the 226ERS UCI Gravel World Series, the three-day event brought together everything that makes Girona such an important meeting point for the cycling industry.

For Ridley, Eddy Merckx Bikes and Nukeproof, Sea Otter Europe was an opportunity to showcase the latest developments across the three brands, meet cyclists and industry professionals from around the world, and experience the unique atmosphere of one of Europe's leading cycling festivals.

Award-winning bikes in the spotlight

There was plenty of attention for the latest additions to our portfolio. The timing of Sea Otter Europe came at an especially interesting moment, with both the Ridley Kanzo Fast 2.0 and Eddy Merckx 525R arriving in Girona with major BikeRadar Awards to their name.

The Kanzo Fast 2.0 was named Best Gravel Bike and Best Bike Overall at the 2026 BikeRadar Awards, while the Eddy Merckx 525R was crowned Race Bike of the Year. Those awards generated plenty of interest at our booth, where visitors could discover the bikes up close and talk to our team about the technology, development and riding characteristics behind them.

The exhibition was also an opportunity to showcase the wider Ridley, Eddy Merckx and Nukeproof ranges. From road and gravel to mountain bikes, visitors had the chance to explore the different bikes and discuss their questions directly with the people behind the brands.

Strong performances on the gravel

The action didn't stay at the exhibition. The weekend also featured the 226ERS UCI Gravel World Series Sea Otter Europe Girona, with several riders linked to Ridley taking on the 109-kilometre race through the gravel roads around Girona. After a strong comeback, Daan Soete finished in an impressive sixth place. The Belgian champion raced on the ASTR RS, adding another strong result to the bike's growing racing record.

Daan Grosemans finished 16th, riding the brand-new Kanzo Fast 2.0 – the same bike that had already attracted considerable attention after its recent BikeRadar Awards success.

The fact that both riders achieved strong results on two very different bikes is a fitting reflection of the versatility and balance of the current Ridley range: from the fast and versatile ASTR RS to the aerodynamic gravel racing capabilities of the new Kanzo Fast 2.0.

A meeting point for the gravel community

For Belgian Cycling Factory, the importance of Sea Otter Europe goes beyond the number of visitors at the booth or the results on the race course. Girona has developed into one of the world's most important hubs for gravel cycling, bringing together riders, brands, retailers, journalists, teams and cycling enthusiasts from across the globe.

Marketing Manager Pieter Vanheeswijck looks back on the event with satisfaction:

“We can look back on a sunny and very successful edition of Sea Otter for our brands. Our booth welcomed many curious visitors, and the recent BikeRadar Awards created a unique momentum around our products. Of course, it was an added value to see our riders compete in the final of the 226ERS UCI Gravel World Series, with Daan Soete’s impressive sixth place as the highlight. Girona is the capital of the gravel community, and we are very pleased that, as a Belgian family-owned company, we are also establishing a presence here.”

That combination of exhibition, racing and community is precisely what makes Sea Otter Europe such a valuable event for Belgian Cycling Factory. It brings the different sides of cycling together in one place and creates opportunities to listen, learn and connect with people who share the same passion for bikes.

From press camp to race weekend

The weekend also marked the conclusion of an eventful week in Girona for Belgian Cycling Factory. Before the exhibition opened, we hosted an exclusive press camp around the Kanzo Fast 2.0, welcoming a selected group of journalists for a first-hand experience of the new gravel bike.

With journalists riding the Kanzo Fast 2.0 on the roads and gravel tracks around Girona, technical presentations from Senior Product Manager Bert Kenens and plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion, the press camp provided an in-depth look at the development of the latest generation Kanzo Fast. A few days later, the bike was back in the spotlight at the exhibition – and on the race course with Daan Grosemans.

Looking back on Girona

Three brands, award-winning bikes, strong racing performances and countless conversations with people from across the cycling world made Sea Otter Europe 2026 a memorable edition for Belgian Cycling Factory.

For us, events like these are ultimately about more than showcasing products. They are about being part of the cycling community, listening to the people who ride our bikes and meeting the partners, retailers, athletes and enthusiasts who help shape the future of our sport.

With a successful weekend in the books, we leave Girona with plenty of positive energy – and already looking forward to the next chapter.