Titia Ryo has already started preparing for her second season at Arkéa-B&B Hôtels. “I started again a month ago“. From her first year in Continental, the 19-year-old Breton came close to victory in the Tour of Portugal but she also experienced setbacks such as her broken elbow in March (read here). She ends her 2024 season 5th Hope in the DV Women's Challenge (see his file) but also with a precise idea of the areas that she still needs to work on as she explains to DirectVelo.
DirectVelo: What is your best memory of this year?
Titia Ryo: It's my second place in the Tour of Portugal, it was a great emotion. There are also our victories at the Tour of Portugal with Michaela (Drummond), in fact, the whole race is a good collective memory.
At the time, did your second place leave you with any regrets?
A little bit. Losing for three seconds comes down to details. In four days, the three seconds you see them everywhere, it's a turnaround, an improvement. But it's a time trial and I managed a time trial that I didn't even think I would do. I thought I was wasting even more time and not gaining any (see rankings).
“THE TOUR OF PORTUGAL TEACHED US LOTS OF THINGS”
Was this Tour of Portugal educational for the whole team?
Yes, we were the leading team, which we are not used to in WorldTour races, for example. It was up to us to take matters into our own hands and put things in place so, obviously, the Tour of Portugal taught us a lot of things, to be united among ourselves. If the leader is not doing well, we must work to make her feel better.
More broadly, what is your assessment of your season?
I have a really positive assessment of my first professional year. I was surprised at the start of the season to be able to quickly grab the Top 10. That reassured me. Then my broken elbow broke my momentum but it also allowed me to come back when the other girls were a little tired and to have a good second part of the season. I didn't think I would take the step so quickly. I knew that the level would be very difficult to pass. The amateur level is stagnating while the professional level is constantly progressing. I wanted to be in the bath as quickly as possible and reach the highest level.
“I’D LIKE TO BECOME A CLIMBER”
You walked well in the mountains, can we say that you are a climber?
I can't say that I consider myself a climber but it's the area where I'm most comfortable. This is where I perform best and where I want to progress. I would really like to become a climber and have more ease when the slope is steep.
You competed in the Tour de l'Avenir with the French team, is it a different way of racing from that with your sporting group?
The Tour de l'Avenir also made it possible to change small habits, to run with other girls, another staff. I had covid just before, so I was a little disappointed with my race but, at the same time, not disappointed at all with the French team's race, we had a completely crazy Tour de l'Avenir . I want to go back in 2025.
“THE DEPARTURE MAKES ME VERY WANT”
In addition, next year there will be the first World Championship for Women's Espoirs, do you want to participate?
Obviously, it makes you think. In Juniors, I had the chance to compete in two World Championships and two European Championships. I know what it is, it's a very special atmosphere and I miss it a little. I hope this year, why not, to be there.
The Women's Tour will start from Brittany, do you want to be there?
I admit that the departure makes me very excited. When you know that the Tour passes 15 kilometers from your home, it inevitably gives you desire and ambitions. I hope to participate but I know that I am only Espoir 2 and that I have other things to learn first.
What do you still need to learn?
Lots of things. I'm not yet down to the millimeter in lots of details. I have to progress in time trials, in stage races, if I don't progress, it will penalize me. I still have physical abilities to increase. Stage races help us progress. The team wanted to introduce me to several of them and the more I do, the better. This is where we work on fatigue and this is where we make the most progress.
