From "worst rider" at Visma | Lease a Bike to "brilliant" at EF: the remarkable winter of Archie Ryan

"On paper, I was probably the worst rider there. Most guys definitely didn't know who I was." Signed: Archie Ryan, late 2023. The Irishman underwent training with Visma | Lease a Bike's youth program, but despite some promising results, he never made it to the WorldTour team. "We ended on good terms, and that was nice because they have given me so much over the past few years," Ryan said of them. EF Education-EasyPost came along and gave him the opportunity, one he is seizing with both hands in his first few months.

The fact that his time with Visma | Lease a Bike did not prove successful was also partly due to injury. With, for example, a fourth place in the U23 Tour de l'Avenir and a stage win in the Tour of Slovakia in 2022, he truly showcased his potential. Tom Southam, team manager at EF Education-EasyPost, agrees, speaking to IDLProCycling.com. "He has a lot of potential; we saw him race last year too, of course. Archie is a specific rider who needs a specific course and can really excel in it. I'm thinking about the steeper climbs, but also the Ardennes classics in the future. The Tour of the Basque Country is also such a typical race for him."

Read more below the photo!

Archie Ryan thrives in new environment

Those are no small ambitions from the team. In his own words, Ryan is exactly where he wants to be. "I feel brilliant, actually. I'm very, very happy here; it couldn't have been better. They treat me super well here and give me lots of opportunities. It's a nice change. This is a team where you get the chance if you show it." Southam says the same: "It's different here. You get more freedom here, but you have to be responsible with that and work really hard. You have to do the same work as at Visma | Lease a Bike, but maybe without someone standing next to you and telling you what to do."

"We are very happy with him. It's nice that a boy can find his footing so early and win straight away," the 42-year-old Brit refers to Ryan's recent victory in the Coppi e Bartali. "There is a big difference between potential and actually winning, which is a bit different from finishing 11th in a big stage race. Ultimately he has to deliver in races in which he can excel and the Coppi e Bartali was a first step for that. He now knows he can win and how to win. As his bike grows, he will be able to do that at an even higher level."

With a fifth place in the GP Indurain, Ryan has already confirmed his excellent form. He then moved on to the Tour of the Basque Country. Thus, according to Southam, a race where the Irishman might excel in the future. Or perhaps even this year? "I like tough races. Whether it's short or long climbs, steep or not steep... As long as it's tough," the good-humored Ryan tells himself. "I don't know what direction I'm going to develop in; I'm just going to do my damnedest."

Read more below the photo!

Different approach works for young Ryan

At EF Education-EasyPost, Ryan gets to experience it all. After the Basque Country, he will compete in the Brabantse Pijl, followed by his return to the Tour of the Alps. A grand tour this year? Who knows. It's a very different program from what he was offered at Visma | Lease a Bike, in a team where roster spots are naturally much more competitive.

Therefore, Southam doesn't want to draw too many comparisons between the top Dutch team and EF. "Success can come from this approach, or it can lead to failure. The same goes for the approach of Visma | Lease a Bike. Some riders thrive under a stricter regimen. There's simply no right or wrong. It's about finding the right match between riders and teams. Sometimes a rider doesn't receive a new contract but chooses to stay, even if it's not the best environment for them. It would be beneficial if riders started recognizing where they fit best."

At 22, Ryan has shown remarkable self-awareness. "This team suits Archie; he has a strong sense of self. He's mature and has the right mindset," nods Southam, who has thus far been entirely complimentary of the newcomer. "Archie meets all our expectations on and off the bike, which is the most important thing. He hasn't come in with the attitude that since there isn't someone constantly monitoring him, he can eat Nutella all day or skip training. He joined because he wanted to push himself just as hard in a different environment."