Keeping track of the news along this week, the UNOX team saw one of its leaders confide in us about this great adventure which will reach a certain climax this season. This is Rasmus Tiller, 26 years, who at the dawn of his third season with the structure led by Jens Haugeland gives us a display of Scandinavian cycling culture and his objectives for this season.
Promising beginnings
Cycling Times : To start, can you introduce yourself to our readers ?
Rasmus Tiller : My name is Rasmus Fossum Tiller, I have 26 years old and I currently live in Oslo ,in the Norwegian capital so.
CT: The day before your 20 years, you started an internship with the Ringeriks-Kraft team. What was your relationship with cycling at that time? ?
RT : I had 16 years when I started cycling. At that time I was in a private high school where I could combine professional sport and normal classes. It was all about the bike and being as good as possible. Effectively , Just before my 20 years, I signed a trainee contract with Ringeriks Kraft followed the year after by a recruitment in the Joker Icopal team then in continental.
CT : Is this internship during which you got a top 10 among renowned sprinters on the Arctic Race motivated you to sign with UNOX which is the continuation of the Ringeriks in 2021 ?
RT : I had a great time at Ringeriks Kraft. In fact, there are many of the same people working with Uno-X today. In 2016, UnoX was a relatively small new team, the way they have grown is amazing and it's nice to be a part of them a few years later.
CT : You spent two years in World Tour with Dimension Data, rejoining notably Edvald Boasson Hagen. How would you describe this stage of your career? ? what do you remember ?
RT: My two years on the World Tour have been both enjoyable and challenging.. In summary, I have fond memories of those years.. I'm grateful for all the new people I've met, and also proud to have raced with many of the best runners in the world. I think I evolved as a runner, even if my personal results were not very good.
“I would like to win a big classic one day and it is certainly a goal for the future”
CT : What category of cyclist do you belong to? ? You have a very interesting burst of speed but do you really like to participate in massive sprints ?
RT : I consider myself a classic runner. I would like to win a big classic one day and it is certainly a goal for the future. Paris Roubaix is the race that makes me dream the most. Indeed I have a nice burst of speed, but I don't like rubbing too much in bunch sprints . I like it more when the group is a little smaller.
CT : How do you analyze your last season ? What results do you remember the most ? What stands out from your second appearances on De Ronde and Paris Roubaix ?
RT : My season has been a bit up and down. The spring races were overall a step up from the previous year with a 6th place finish at Omloop (The newspapaer) , 11e on the E3 (Saxo Bank Classic) and close to being in the winning group in Gent-Wevelgem. Then De Ronde and Paris-Roubaix were big disappointments. I fell ill just before the Tour of Flanders and broke my collarbone in Roubaix. I then started racing again and won the national championship. My second part of the season was again affected by health problems. But I was happy with the world championship and my second place in Binche.
CT : During the last world championships, you found yourself in the medalist position in the final. What are the impressions that crossed you ?
RT : It was special to be in position for a medal at the World Championship. I had a great day on the bike and managed to get the right movement during the race. Retrospectively, I thought a lot about what could have happened that day. Of course, I took a lot of confidence with me from that day on., but at the same time, I felt that I could have had a much better result.
CT: You are crowned Norwegian champion for the second time in five years. A special feeling?
RT : It's always special to wear the national champion jersey. It's an honor and I'm always proud when I train with this jersey.
Projecting into the future
CT: What are your goals for next season? ? Are you looking forward to having the experienced Alexander Kristoff with you for the classics?
RT: My goal for the coming season is to perform well in the classics and I hope to be in good shape when they start.. Furthermore, teaming up with one of the greatest classics of all time is also special. I think Alex and I can express ourselves well with the team.
CT: How do you find the atmosphere at UNO-X ? And do you think you are already a mentor for young developing riders ?
RT: The atmosphere is very good. I have very good friends in the team, and I think it's a good basis for performing as a team. I don't really see myself as a mentor. But at the same time I try to be aware of what I do and how I act with young riders. I really hope the young riders on the team feel they can talk to me about anything and that I can be a good role model for them..
CT : What does participating in the Tour de France mean? 2023 for you and for the team ?
RT: Now, it is official that we are going to run the Tour in 2023. The Tour de France is certainly important for the team, but it is also very important for cycling in Norway in general. For me, it's definitely a dream come true to run the Tour. I hope to be selected and perform well with the team during these three weeks.
Thanks to Rasmus Tiller for this interview. The entire Cycling Times team wishes him the best for his season.
