Ryan Kamp believes there's more to come in 2025: "I haven't got the best out of myself yet"

Ryan Kamp, the 24-year-old Dutch rider and former Under-23 Cyclocross World Champion, recently opened up about his cyclocross career, challenges, and future ambitions on Laurens ten Dam’s podcast. As the sport's busy winter period approaches, Kamp provided insights into his journey from a road cyclist to a dedicated cyclocross competitor and the hurdles he has faced in recent years.

"I was a road cyclist, but my coach said, ‘You can’t spend the whole winter sitting on the couch.’ So I bought a cyclo-cross bike,” Kamp explained. His talent became evident quickly, culminating in a Dutch championship title as a youth rider and an exceptional U23 season in 2020, where he claimed the world title. However, his progression in the elite ranks has been slower than expected.

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“I think I’m still in the building phase. I haven’t gotten the best out of myself yet," Kamp said. Recognising himself as a "slow developer," he emphasised that his journey is far from complete. “There’s still so much room to improve. I also struggle with the duration of the races.”

The road has not been without its bumps. At the end of 2023, Kamp faced an uncertain future after parting ways with the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal team. “I saw it coming,” he admitted. “They were already becoming less giving than they used to be. Then I read online that my contract wouldn’t be renewed.”

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This lack of communication left Kamp frustrated and questioning his future. “If you have some balls, you’d talk about it, right? On what basis was the decision made? Financial or athletic? I really wondered if, within a week, I’d still be racing cyclo-cross or if I’d have to start working at a supermarket.” Despite these challenges, the uncertainty sharpened his focus. “It sharpened my focus, though — I knew I had to prove myself more. But it was a very uncertain time. I was sixth in the World Cup standings, I definitely wanted to continue racing in cyclo-cross.”

Finding himself without a team at the beginning of the cyclocross season was an unprecedented challenge. “Someone on the first starting row who's suddenly without a team, that was unbelievable,” Kamp recalled. The situation reflected a broader issue within the sport: limited sponsorship opportunities. Despite these difficulties, Kamp reached out to the Roodhooft brothers, hoping for an opportunity to continue racing.

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“I had already been in contact with the Roodhooft brothers. During the winter, I reached out again through my manager and coach. I called and asked, ‘Is there a spot for me?’ Even there, it was tough; they were at capacity. But they said, ‘You keep on racing, because you can’t end up working in a factory.”