Douglas Ryder, professional cycling team manager for more than a decade has launched a brand new project. This South African fifty-year-old also led the Qhubeka team. Find out more about this exciting and inspiring team using cycling as a catalyst for progress and change.
Cycling Times : The Q36.5 project is first announced at the end of July 2022. How would you describe the Q36.5 team ?
Douglas Ryder : The Q36.5 Professional Cycling Team is a progressive and diverse team that pushes the boundaries of performance while using the power of the peloton to impact the world.
CT : One year earlier, the Qhubeka team, which you managed for twelve years with an African license, including six seasons in WT, was reduced to an Italian continental team. How did you deal with this difficult moment? ?
DR : It was difficult to lose the WorldTour team license due to lack of funding after all the great seasons we had and the riders we trained. We continued, with our UCI continental team, to give young riders a platform to compete, hoping we could get back on track.
CT : otherwise, you are considered the greatest cycling pioneer in Africa thanks to the Qhubeka project. In hindsight, did you imagine such success at the start? ?
DR : Our team has always aimed to use its potential to develop others and provide hope and opportunity.. I am very happy to see the African riders performing so well today and the interest in Africa and African cycling since we established our team at the highest level of cycling.
CT : Do you regret not having Biniam Girmay in Qhubeka ? Was there any contact at the time? ?
DR : It would have been great to have Biniam on our team or even to have him on our team today, but I'm really happy that he found his own way to succeed in cycling and get the support he needed.
CT : The Q36.5 project is exclusively Swiss, but do Qhubeka's solidarity works continue through him ?
DR : The team is registered in Switzerland, but we are a multinational team that runs for more than victory. We run for progress and change, to advance people and performance. Our mission #RacingTheFuture speaks to people, to performance and the planet. And we use our partners and the power of the peloton to continue to make a positive impact in these areas, including in Qhubeka.
CT : How did the construction of the team go, knowing that you had 3 or 4 month ?
DR : Thanks to our contacts, our partners and our reputation, we were able to build the team in a very short time. We struggled the first few months of the year to build the team infrastructure, but thanks to great people, we were able to jump into the race and do all this work in parallel.
CT : Is it more difficult to recruit cyclists when you are a new team that has to prove itself? ?
DR : It is difficult to put together a new team when many riders have already signed contracts for the new season. People follow people and that helped us.
CT: Malecki initially signed with Santic Wibatech at continental level. How the transfer of the 23rd man in the team took place ?
DR : We had to get a release from the team, but when a rider has the possibility of accessing the ProTour from the Conti level, it is rare for a team to oppose this career opportunity.
CT : How do you analyze the first part of the season?, knowing that the team has already signed two victories ? What are your goals this season? ?
DR : We had some tough races and were invited to take part in many WorldTour classics and stage races, which was a goal for us to represent our partners in the biggest races in the world. It takes time for a new team to adapt and get to know each other. So we are happy with what we have accomplished so far, but we would like to win other races and improve our ranking.
CT : Walter Calzoni, who we interviewed a few weeks ago, shows a lot of good things. Did you expect him to be so strong and so fast ?
DR : We were pleasantly surprised to see his strength and fitness at the start of the season and his performances. This is why we extended his contract, because we see that together we can move forward, grow up and do something great. This year will be a building year for Walter and his future is bright.
CT : What do you think of the Wild Cards you have received so far for the WT races? ? Three monuments among these, Was this really to be hoped for? ?
DR : As a team, you always want to show yourself at the highest level. Runners want races and races want runners, so being invited to the WorldTour races we did was really special. And we wanted to be as efficient as possible, which was not easy against the best runners in the world. We look forward to continuing this momentum in the years to come.
CT : What do you think about the evolution of cycling since your days as a runner? ? And locally, what is the current state of South African cycling, who unfortunately lost their only continental team last year ?
DR : Cycling has evolved a lot organizationally and technologically over the years. 20 at 30 last years. Sport has become more open to the world, with runners who shine in all areas, which is wonderful to see. Cycling is not just a European sport, It’s a sport that’s for everyone., whatever the country, regardless of race or gender. The technical aspect, with active intelligence devices that provide so much information and data, as well as advances in bicycles and clothing have been considerable. Road cycling is certainly at an all-time low in South Africa, mainly due to lack of events, partly for security and traffic reasons. On the other hand, mountain bike events and triathlon are strong disciplines of the sport, who seem to have the wind in their sails. I hope road cycling will resume in the future, and that the world championships in Rwanda in 2025 will be an opportunity to relaunch road cycling.
CT : What do you like best and least about being a team manager? ?
DR : What I like least, these are the falls. Seeing your runners crashed really hurts, it's like a member of the family, It’s hard to witness an accident. What I prefer, it’s when you’re all connected and mentally and physically prepared for a race with a plan that works in the end. Bringing together runners who all have their own skills and dreams around a plan and seeing it come to fruition, it is magic.
CT : Q36.5, the continental team, has an Italian license. Where does this particularity come from? ?
DR : So that we can offer African runners the opportunity to race in Italy, they had to reside in Italy, hence the need to register the team as an Italian team.
CT : Vincenzo Nibali is technical advisor to the team. What exactly is its role? ?
DR : Vincenzo is a Q36.5 ambassador and the team's technical advisor. In this role, he gives us […] his training experience, about racing and what has worked for him in his incredible career. He advises and supervises the runners during the team’s training camps. He also organizes executive engagement sessions for our partners and networks with event organizers.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Douglas Ryder for participating in this interview. His valuable contribution and knowledge enriched our discussion significantly. We wish the Q36.5 team the best.
