Ryan Kamp ready for Dutch National Championships after difficult period: "It feels good mentally, but still some uncertainty"

Finishing 2024 with a strong result and starting 2025 with a good performance — after a challenging start to his cyclo-cross season, Ryan Kamp is showing flashes of his undeniable talent once again. Combined with his determination, this could lead to some great results for the Dutchman in the final month and a half of the cyclo-cross season. IDLProCycling.com spoke with him ahead of the Dutch National Championships!

A year he won’t soon forget. That is how Kamp described 2024 on social media. And rightly so — it was eventful. After leaving Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, Kamp found himself searching for a team, eventually landing with the Roodhooft brothers and Fenix. But the early weeks of this cyclo-cross season didn’t go smoothly for Kamp either.

First, he got caught up in an incident with Eli Iserbyt, and then, in mid-October, he suffered a heavy crash in the start zone at Ruddervoorde, Belgium. This caused him to miss the European Championships, among other races, and forced him to practically start over. That’s why ending 2024 with a sixth-place finish in Diegem, followed by a seventh-place finish in Gullegem at the start of 2025, was such a relief for him.

Camp back among the best: "Without setbacks, I can achieve nice results"

We spoke to Kamp the day after the grueling race in Dendermonde. "The muscle soreness isn’t too bad. I’m mostly just tired. Races like Dendermonde really take a toll on you. Those heavy mud races aren’t exactly my favorite, but I think they’re part of the sport a few times a year. Just not too often, for me personally," Kamp said with a laugh.

"I prefer the way it was the day before in Gullegem the day before: muddy with a bit of running, but still some speed. Dendermonde was brutal. There’s no moment to rest. It’s push, push, push. Not really my thing," added the Dutchman, who actually started the World Cup race well.

"I did ride in fourth for a while during the first lap. Things were going well, and I felt fine. But then there was a collision in the pit zone. That literally knocked me back. I tried to push forward as much as I could, but I paid the price in the last half hour. After that, I was out of contention," he explained.

Still, his performance in Gullegem left him feeling positive. "My form is good, but I needed to put that into practice in the race. In Diegem, we saw the first signs that I can achieve nice results when I’m not dealing with setbacks, even though everything isn’t 100% yet. Being able to confirm that in Gullegem was really nice."

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Lingering effects of his crash in Ruddervoorde

However, the effects of the heavy crash in Ruddervoorde haven’t completely faded. "My back is still acting up. In Diegem and Gullegem, it didn't bother me that much, because those courses didn’t strain my back too much. But in Dendermonde, with all the pushing, pulling, and those washboards, my back took a lot of hits. It’s still not 100%, and I can't quite get the best out of myself either."

"For a long time, my entire back hurt, but in the past few weeks, it’s mainly been my lower back. Especially when running, it kind of locks up," Kamp explained. Not surprising when you hear what he’s been through. "At first, they thought I had broken vertebrae in my back and neck, but after a lot of tests, it turned out that wasn’t the case. Instead, I had a severe bruise. They often say those can be more painful than fractures, and I’ve definitely felt that."

"I’ve had a lot of trouble with it," the Dutchman sighed. "Even just being at home, doing normal things. Normally you can just do those things, but I couldn't. Like grabbing a pan from a cabinet, bending down to get it... The pain was killing me. And I’m 24, I’m not supposed to be dealing with stuff like that, haha. But that was only in the beginning. I’ve spent a lot of time with masseurs and osteopaths these past weeks," he said.

A few months ago, Kamp's smile — and good form — weren't really there. "The cyclo-cross season is only about four months long, and I’ve missed a good month and a half of it because of the crash. I did race during part of that time, but I might as well not have. I was still dealing with so many issues."

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Camp still searching for extra confidence

There might be one small upside to the downtime, though. "Because I’ve raced about ten fewer cyclo-cross races than the others, I notice that I’m fresher on good days. That gives me a chance to aim for a strong result. In a race like Dendermonde, which is more about toughness, I’m at a disadvantage. But I still feel like I'm getting better and better each time. Last year, my weak point was fading in the final laps. But on Saturday in Gullegem, I actually moved up from eighth to sixth in the final lap."

"We decided to skip a few races during the Christmas period to avoid overexerting myself after missing so many earlier on," Kamp explained. "I didn’t race in Mol, Loenhout, Baal, or Koksijde. The goal was to keep building my fitness, and I hope that strategy pays off. It’s been a tough period, but physically, I still feel pretty good. Everyone is feeling tired by now."

Still, Kamp isn’t ready to say he’s fully back yet. "It feels good mentally to see things going well, but there’s still a bit of uncertainty and lack of confidence lingering in the back of my mind. You catch yourself thinking about how it’s just two races. So I’m still looking for more confirmation, but for now, it’s a great feeling."

Camp matured a lot in 2024

That confirmation might come on Sunday, during the Dutch National Championships. "The National Championships (in the Netherlands, ed.) are always a big goal for me. Of course, I want to become Dutch champion or get a good result. But the main thing is to go there with a clear head. I’ve had so little experience this year racing in the final stages or positioning myself at the front in a group. Maybe I still get pushed around a bit too much, whereas last year, I would’ve said, 'This is my spot, and I’m staying here.' I’m still figuring that out again."

What’s causing that? "At the start of 2024, I had a tough time with the team switch, and then the setbacks piled on top of that. It’s not a lack of confidence. I showed in Gullegem and Dendermonde that I’m not afraid to put myself in the mix. But maybe I don’t have enough confidence yet to fully break through in those moments."

Despite everything, Kamp remains optimistic. "I’ve matured a lot because of this. It hasn’t been all bad. I’ve grown as a person. I’m also more aware of what a beautiful life I have, to be able to do what I do," said the rider in Fenix’s green jersey.

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Kamp: "National Championships are going to be very exciting"

So, Sunday — what can we expect? "The (Dutch, ed.) National Championships don’t feel like a home race, but it’s nice that it’s only a 30-minute drive. Dutch races are always fun for me. As for the smaller peloton, I actually find that a bit harder. You’re on your own against riders like Pim Ronhaar and Lars van der Haar. And then there’s Tibor Del Grosso. I don't know what it is with him, but he’s been riding incredibly well lately. Really impressive. He’s definitely someone we'll have to keep an eye on," Kamp said.

"I think it’s going to be a very exciting race. Pim is doing really well at the moment, though he’s mentioned his form is dipping. But you never know with him. He's the type who can suddenly blow everyone away. Lars hasn’t had a great run in terms of results, but he’s still a winner. Mees Hendrikx is also riding well, much better than last year. And Joris Nieuwenhuis... He hasn’t raced, but he’s still a top rider. You can’t underestimate him."

Kamp knows the course in Oisterwijk but hasn’t experienced it in these conditions. "I’ve raced there a few years ago and even won. Back then, it was a very fast course with some longer straight sections and a few slower, technical parts. The weather will play a big role this time. It’s a fun course, though. A championship always comes with a bit more tension, but that’s what makes for a great atmosphere. That’s why I actually enjoy it more than a Belgian race," he said ahead of the National Championships.

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