Aug 26th, 09

Ryan Wills Lotto-Bodysol team photo

• 26th August UCI 1.1 Course du Raisin - Overijse
• 3rd September EL.IND Kortemark
• 9th September UCI 1.1 Memorial Rik Van Steenburgen - Aartselaar
• 12th September UCI 1.HC Paris - Bruxelles
• 16th September UCI 1.1 G.P de Wallonie
• 23rd September UCI 1.1 Omloop van het Houtland - Litchervelde
• 1st - 4th October UCI 2.HC Circuit Franco - Belge
• 11th October UCI 1.1 U23 Paris - Tours Espoir
• 13th October UCI 1.1 Prix de Clôture Putte-Kapellen

So as you can see I still have a lot of racing to go.

Best ride/result of the season
My best ride of the season would probably be Romsee - Stavelot - Romsee.  I did everything perfectly that day and proved to myself that I can climb with the best in Belgium.  The result wasn't great (15th) but I was only caught by the group within the last 500m while in 5th.

Best experience (on or off the bike)
Tour of Belgium, a week with some of the world's best bike riders. It's just amazing to be riding with these guys, it was only a couple of years ago I was watching them on TV in the Tour de France, dreaming of one day being there, now I'm riding in the same peloton.

Were you happy with your 2009 International season?
I have mixed feelings looking back on the season. I've been hit by a couple of injuries which has hampered the season but I can also see I have made some huge improvements and had the best season I have ever had. I'll just keep working hard and look to step up for the rest of the year.

When are you back in NZ?
I fly home on the 14th October. I will return home with one of my Lotto-Bodysol teammates to prepare for Tour of Southland. I will be back in Christchurch over summer.

Are you planning on riding; Tour of Southland, Taupo Challenge, Festival of Cycling, Elite Nationals...
I'm going to be riding the Tour of Southland again this year, back with Share the Road, as the message is something I feel strongly about and support 100% especially after my accident in 2006. I may ride Rotorua - Ohope as it's my home town race. Other than that I will ride Tour de Vineyards and Elite Nationals before returning to Belgium.

Main goal for the NZ season ....
My main goal for the NZ season, Elite Nationals, I want to do the double next year. I feel cheated after being so close to the time trial title this year. It's a really hard course which will be great.

Plans for 2010
I'm lucky because I am still under contract for 2010, which makes life a lot easier as I haven't had a lot of results this year. It has been a year of building.

For me, the best option is to stay with Lotto - Bodysol, as it is the feeder team to Silence - Lotto pro tour team. I signed my first contract when I was 19, last year I was learning to run so to speak, this year I have been more involved and been able to mix it up more in the races and find my feet a lot more so I'm working towards a big season next year.

All going well I'll be looking to step up to the big time at the end of next year. This year I've proven to myself it's a realistic goal. When I have been on form, I have been able to mix it with the best continental riders in Belgium and France.

I have taken a very different road to get to where I am. I came straight out of the National team in to the pro's, something I was very lucky to do. It's definitely a hard road being thrown in the deep end and trying to swim. A lot of other riders don't have such opportunities and have to make their way up through the amateur ranks so I'm very grateful for the opportunity I have to work with.


Related articles on Ryan's international season

• Mar 20th: Where in the World is Ryan Wills
• May 27th: Ryan Wills in Tour of Belgium tonight
• May 29th: Ryan Wills reports on Robbie McEwen

Read the season round-ups of all the kiwi internationals..

Greg Henderson, Peter Latham, Alex Meenhorst, Tim Gudsell, OEX Team Enterprise, Matt Sillars, Roman Van Uden, Alex McGregor, Heath Blackgrove, Wade Mangham, Glen Chadwick, Genevieve Whitson, George Bennett, Logan Hutchings, Michael Torckler, Josie Giddens, Jesse Sergent, Tom David, Jack Bauer, Sam Bewley, Rushlee Buchanan, Clinton Avery, Ryan Wills, Cath Cheatley plus recent interviews with Alison Shanks, Hayden Roulston and Jo Kiesanowski. More to come...

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