Archie Ryan has gotten his season underway in muted fashion in recent days, before being denied another competitive outing today, Saturday, when the 151.5km Trofeo Andratx-Pollença (1.1) was stopped after 23km. That event in Mallorca was halted due to unsafe conditions after heavy rain led to several crashes.
The Irishman said he "just had a bad day, one of those days" in his first race of the season at Trofeo Calvià (1.1) on Wednesday. He trailed in 18 minutes down and among a group of riders outside the time limit.
However, he has his eyes fixed on a busy schedule ahead as he builds towards the Ardennes Classics. He rode those races for the first time last year - and then performed strongly at the Worlds in Zurich - and has confirmed the Ardennes would be a "major focus" for him this spring.
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"I'd do all the one-day races into Strade Bianche," he said of making his debut in the Italian race over gravel sectors next month.
Those one day races - all listed below - will start with a trio of hilly events in France, kicking off with Classic Var on February 21st.
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"And then I'll do Basque Country and on to the Ardennes. And Ardennes is a major focus for me," he said. "I think I can fight for podiums when I'm going well, and that's what I'll try to do."
Archie Ryan's spring
- Feb 21st: Classic Var (1.1)
- March 1st: Faun-Ardèche Classic (1.Pro)
- March 2nd: Faun Drome Classic (1.Pro)
- March 5th: Trofeo Laigueglia (1.Pro)
- March 8th: Strade Bianche (1.UWT)
- April 7th-12th: Itzulia Basque Country (2.UWT)
- April 20th: Amstel Gold Race (1.UWT)
- April 23rd: La Flèche Wallonne (1.UWT)
- April 27th: Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1.UWT)
Of the race's on the schedule for Ryan, he competed in several last year. He placed 13th in Trofeo Laigueglia. He then went on to win a stage and take 2nd overall at Coppi e Bartali and 5th and the GP Miguel Indurain, though those two Italian races are not on the agenda this year.
At Itzulia Basque Country last year he was 39th before working for Ben Healy and Richard Carapaz at La Flèche Wallonne, where was a non-finisher. He then placed 55th at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on debut.
Ryan's ride at last year's Worlds in Zurich, finishing 12th on a relentlessly up and down course over 274km, suggests he has the staying power for races like the Ardennes Classics, especially Liège-Bastogne-Liège which will be six hours or more.
