CDF Racing Takes on Belgium

Nine CDF riders spent 26 days racing in Belgium, completing approximately 61 race starts across 23 events. The group included six Under-19 riders: Aidan, Alex, Nicholas, Theo, Charlotte and Indiah, and three Under-23 riders: Bailey, Jaco and Connor.

The block gave the riders sustained exposure to large fields, technical courses, cobbled roads and the aggressive style of racing for which Belgium is known.

The tour formed part of the CDF Racing Program, giving developing Australian riders the opportunity to test themselves in a very different racing environment.

The racing block by the numbers

Across 15 race days, the group accumulated approximately 61 individual starts. During the first two weeks alone, the riders reported completing a combined 3,673 kilometres of racing.

• 9 developing riders
• 6 Under-19 and 3 Under-23 riders
• 26 days in Europe
• 23 race events
• 15 race days
• Approximately 61 individual race starts
• 3,673 kilometres raced in the first two weeks
• 47 km/h highest reported race average
• 2 top-10 finishes

Results and progress

The standout result came from junior rider Theo Grant, who finished eighth at Bambrugge–Erpe-Mere. Alex Terrell also rode strongly in the same race, finishing 16th.

Theo’s result came after he bridged towards the break during the final two laps. He had managed his preparation and blood-glucose levels well and was able to make the right tactical decision late in the race.

“You only learn by losing, and the only way to win is to try again.” – Theo Grant

First-year Under-23 rider Bailey Paton recorded the squad’s other top-10 result while racing in an elite field in his first overseas stint.

There were several other encouraging performances across the group, but the biggest positive was the improvement shown from the start of the block to the finish.

Learning to race in Belgium

The rider check-ins showed how much was being learned beyond the results. Positioning, race awareness, nutrition, preparation and resilience came up repeatedly.

Alex found that holding a position near the front could save energy over the course of a race, even when it required more effort in the moment. Aidan and Charlotte also identified positioning as a major area of improvement, while Indiah focused on making smarter decisions within the bunch.

Nicholas dealt with punctures and crashes across several races and highlighted improvements in his bunch skills and resilience. Bailey learned to be more assertive when competing for wheels, while Connor experienced the difficulty of backing up after a hard race day.

There were plenty of difficult moments. Mechanical problems, crashes, missed opportunities and consecutive race days tested the riders, but those experiences were part of the reason for being there.

“Hectic, but the most fun racing ever, with so many opportunities to learn about how to live, race and work with others.” – Alex Terrell

Life away from racing

Living and racing away from home required the riders to manage meals, preparation, travel, recovery and the responsibilities of sharing accommodation with teammates.

Away from the races, the group explored Ghent and Brussels, visited local festivals and made the most of Belgium’s coffee culture. Those quieter moments were an important part of building relationships within the group.

CDF thanks Brad, Paul and Jessica for their work throughout the tour, along with the families, supporters and partners who helped make the block possible.

Congratulations to Aidan, Alex, Nicholas, Theo, Charlotte, Indiah, Bailey, Jaco and Connor for taking on the challenge and representing CDF in Belgium.

Partner Feature: Statuo Group

CDF is proud to be supported by Statuo Group, an integrated design, development and construction group delivering projects across Australia.

In its recent feature, “How Integrated Teams Reduce Risk”, Statuo Group examines the risks created when design and construction are treated as separate stages of a project.

Decisions made well before construction can create problems later. Gaps in documentation become variations, assumptions about buildability cause delays and differences between what was designed and what can be built place pressure on budgets.

Statuo Group addresses this by keeping architects, construction professionals and cost expertise involved throughout the project. Ideas can be tested against budgets and practical requirements early, while there is still time to identify risks and find better solutions.

This integrated approach helps protect the original design intent, improve cost certainty and reduce the need for reactive changes later in the project.

When design and construction expertise work within the same team, the benefits can include earlier cost testing, better-informed decisions, faster identification of project risks and stronger protection of the design elements that matter most.

CDF thanks Statuo Group for its continued support of our programs and developing riders.

Learn more at statuogroup.com.