Archie Ryan made the most of his call-up to the Jumbo Visma World Tour team last year when he claimed a stage victory, and 6th overall, at Tour de Slovaquie (2.1). While that call-up came late in the year, in September, Ryan will not have to wait as long this season.
He will get his 2023 campaign underway in coming weeks and while he is again riding for the Jumbo Visma Development team this year, he will start his new season with a stint in the World Tour line-up for racing in Italy.
Ryan (21) will pin numbers on for the first time this year at Coppi e Bartali (2.1) on March 21st as part of the Jumbo Visma World Tour line-up in the race.
The five-stage event was won by Eddie Dunbar, then of Ineos Grenadiers, last year and was his first ever victory as professional cyclist. While the event does not include the kind of very tough climbing that Ryan likes best, the climbs are hard enough to split the field and can really suit the young Irishman.
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He can once again hope for top results in 2023 following his breakthrough season last year and will be looking to hit the ground running in four weeks time at Coppi e Bartali.
This time last year Ryan was hoping for an injury-free clear run - as he was coming back from persistent knee issues that had wrecked his 2020 and 2021 season. But now he is facing into the coming season a different rider and, hopefully, on the cusp of really big pro career.
He now has that Tour de Slovaquie stage win on his palmares as well as 4th overall in last year's Tour de l'Avenir and a stage win in Ronde de l'Isard (2.2U). Crucially he has proven himself among the very best on the climbs, and shown he has the killer instinct to win when the opportunities arise.
This year is Ryan's final season at U23 level and if he were to gain another few results, as seems certain, they are very likely to secure him a place in the Jumbo Visma World Tour team proper next year.
