Words James Ion - Photography provided by Ryan Christensen
“I didn’t want a team to determine when I hung up my wheels” affirms Ryan Christensen via video chat. The New Zealander, who is now settled in London, UK is talking to me about his journey into GRVL which, unfortunately, like many, came about as a necessity rather than a career focus.
As anyone who follows cycling knows, the current Road-Racing model is not fit for purpose, especially below the World Tour. Many a Pro Conti team has folded and many riders at the Conti level have to subsidise their dreams with part-time work only for their contracts to be cancelled as sponsors pull out. To be fair to the teams that are doing well this this is not across the board and some are thriving but many good riders have to retire early due to a lack of opportunities. Therefore GRVL racing is becoming a more viable option for individual riders.
Now with no disrespect to Ryan, you might not have heard of him before. He is a typical Kiwi in that he says how it is and doesn't look for any fuss, he lets his legs do the talking and since coming to GRVL he has had some great results on the European stages of the UCI Gravel World Series, but it is the smoother stuff that got him to where he is today.
“I came over (to the UK) in 2018” recalls Ryan “I joined the Conti Team Canyon DHB with the plan just to do some races and ended up staying” he went on to get good results before moving to the Bolton Equities Team in 2022 where he continued his good form. 2023 was a standout season as not only did his team become a Pro-Conti team but he also represented New Zealand at the Road World Champs in Glasgow. Then, in November, despite being under contract the team folded and he was left without a team and an income.
“Financial reasons were not how I wanted my career to end” states a determined Ryan “I had dabbled with GRVL in 2023 but it was only when Rule28 (London-based Performance Cycling clothing company) got in touch wanting a full-time GRVL rider that I got the motivation to keep going”. It was a timely intervention and a partnership that has helped not only extend his career but given him full control.
“It’s a great partnership as I get to add to the kit development and it’s given me the opportunity to keep racing”.
2024 was the first season that he focused on GRVL, despite the support from Rule28 it has not been as simple as just turning up and riding your bike. “I have depleted my savings to fund this season” reflects Ryan “Being a privateer it’s hard to get people to invest in you. Every brand wants a return be it exposure through social media or with results. For me, my first priority is to win, to get the best performance not the most likes, so it was tough to find someone to invest in me as a rider without the background in GRVL”. His focus on performance has paid off with 10th at the Traka, and 5th at GiroSardegna Gravel (GRV) with 4th at WörtherseeGravel Race (GRV) being a standout performance “I was getting dropped on the big climb every lap atWörthersee” smiles Ryan “but I kept going and got4th so I was really happy with the result”
Other sponsors have come on board, including Handsling Bikes “I put the feelers out and hopefully now I have everything sorted for 2025 so I can fully finance the season and concentrate on the racing full-time”
In every profession, having job security is a comforting thought. However, the story of the Bolton Equities Team serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed. The uncertainty faced by riders, particularly individuals like Ryan venturing into uncharted Privateer territory, can be overwhelming.
“After years of uncertainty on the road, not knowing what the next year holds, I've learned to set aside the 'What if it doesn't work out?' question. I'll deal with that situation when it arises.”
“No matter what I would still be on my bike, riding takes all the stress away so any negative thoughts just go away on the bike”
He can only focus on what is in front of him, what he can control right now, and right now that is racing.
“The biggest goal this year is to be on the front row of the UCI GRVL World Championships” states Ryan. The Worlds this year will be held in Leuven Belgium, there has been some controversy in how points were allocated, as in the first-ever event WTRiders could use their points, so without ever riding a GRVL bike were on the front row and the full-time GRVL pros were stuck at the back. However, this year it has been promised that points from other disciplines will only be counted 50% giving the GRVL Pros more credence.
“Ever since I have been riding pro I have kept a spreadsheet of my results, recording the points I have, and so far I am sitting 4th based on UCIrankings, hopefully, I will have enough to ensure I get the best start possible”
GRVL racing is ever-changing; Ryan has seen new developments in his first season.
“Yeah, team dynamics are coming increasingly into racing” suggests Ryan “But I don't see it as a bad thing. I think it can help grow the sport as it attracts sponsors more as teams have a higher profile. As I said it’s hard managing it all alone, this year I had the opportunity to go to Unbound, but it was just too expensive, a team would help with this.” To put that into context, even though Ryan is a full-time professional he had to enter a lottery to get a place at the race in Kansas and had to pay an entry fee, which might surprise you to know all pros have to pay “Unless you are a top, top rider there are not many free invites, which makes being on a team a potential option”. There are downsides however, “As a privateer, I like the freedom to choose, but a team can take all the stress away, it is a bit of a catch-22, if I could take my sponsors with me it could be an option in the future.”
One thing that is constant in this sport is the social aspect. There are some very special athletes on the circuit and the unique nature of the sport means that we can ride with them, maybe not as fast but on the same courses at the same time.“Yeah it's not like road racing where it's straight on the bus when the race is finished” confirms Ryan“It’s more like a community, you can have thousands of people all sharing a drink, the mass participation aspect is amazing”. Being a NewZealander a rugby analogy works best to describe how a GRVL race might be for the pros “Yeah it is a bit like rugger” smirks Ryan “Smash each other all day and then have a beer after as mates. It is an elite sport but it still keeps the spirit together”
That is one of the reasons he keeps going, not the plaudits, not the fame, but the enjoyment, in the event, in the atmosphere and his performance.
All that hard work is paying off, his legs are doing the talking and his competitors better start listening.
For more information on Ryan visit his Instagram
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