Joris Nieuwenhuis commits future to Cube
Joris Nieuwenhuis has secured his desired sponsor for the upcoming season. The 29-year-old cyclocross rider currently rides for the Ridley Racing Team, but this team is about to cease operations. Nieuwenhuis had been searching for a private sponsor for some time and has now found one with the German brand Cube. A collaboration with the German cyclocross team Heizomat is in the works, WielerFlits reports.
Included in the deal is Mees Hendrikx. Due to his strong performances in recent weeks, he was highly sought after in the transfer market, but the North Brabant native remains loyal to Heizomat. The Swiss Kevin Kuhn and the Dutch talent Mae Cabaca also currently race for the green team. Whether they will be under contract with Heizomat next season is not yet clear to us.
What is clear, however, is that Nieuwenhuis has found a new private sponsor in Cube. The German bike brand is already affiliated with Heizomat. Earlier, there were rumors of the Dutchman moving to Pauwels Sauzen-Altez Industriebouw. At Joris Mettepenningen’s team, Nieuwenhuis was supposed to fill the gap left by Eli Iserbyt. The unfortunate Belgian had to quit elite racing following multiple femoral artery surgeries.
Merger with Ridley Falls Through
There was talk of a merger between Mettepenningen’s team and the Ridley team surrounding Nieuwenhuis. "But Joris says: that’s not the environment where I want to ride," his manager Richard Groenendaal previously told us. "I don’t feel at home there. A solution is being worked on. He would very much like to soon start something around himself, also focused on his personal future after cycling."
Enter Cube. According to our sources, the bike brand has now linked up with Nieuwenhuis. Discussions have taken place about a structure where the Dutchman would race under the Heizomat team. From next cyclocross winter, he will form a core block with Hendrikx there. Richard Groenendaal, as a close confidant of Nieuwenhuis, will also move with him from the current Ridley team to Heizomat.
