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LATEST FEATURES: LIVE FROM LAKE COMO
By Gregor Brown
January 6, 2011
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The 2010 season introduced us to new young cyclists and hinted towards those who will be the future champions. Slovakian Peter Sagan blasted on the scene at the Tour Down Under and won two stages at Paris-Nice at the start of the season. American Taylor Phinney won the Under 23 Paris-Roubaix for a second time and ended the season with a World title at the under 23 time trial championship.
Sagan was completely new to us, but others, like Phinney and Dan Martin, had already indicated their potential star status. Below is a list of 10 riders worth highlighting in your notebook...
1. Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing), 20
"I'm looking forward to being up there with the next big generation," Phinney explained. "Hopefully I can do my part."
Phinney, a time trial and classics specialist, has already ruled at the amateur level. Now, he looks ready to do so in the professional ranks, a task that will be made easier with a charisma that reminds many of Lance Armstrong.
Armstrong tried to convince Phinney to turn professional with his RadioShack team, but BMC Racing won the battle. What did the team of Cadel Evans get? The Under-23 Paris-Roubaix cobbled classic winner (twice), Under 23 world time trial champion, elite world champion gold medalist on the track and the king of Twitter.
"First time in red and black," he wrote about his BMC Racing kit. "Red tights = where it's at."
Expect a big debut win this year, maybe Paris-Roubaix, and a lot of fun along the way.
2. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), 20
Sagan is five months older than Phinney. He is not as entertaining off the bike, but just as strong on it. He won two stages at Paris-Nice, one at Romandie and two in California.
"Peter can go well in the one-day races, he's explosive and has a build like Cunego or Oscar Freire," said Liquigas' sports director, Stefano Zanatta earlier this year. "He is physically strong, this is only the start."
3. Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad), 22
In his first professional year with Bob Stapleton's HTC team last year, American Van Garderen placed third in the prestigious Critérium du Dauphiné. Who was ahead of him? Janez Brajkovic and Alberto Contador.
Van Garderen is ready for more: "I expect to actually win something next year."
The win may come at the Tour of California. With Michael Rogers gone to Sky, HTC will look to Van Garderen to defend its title.
4. Adam Blythe (OmegaPharma-Lotto), 21
Brit Adam Blythe slips past most fans' radars, but that will probably change quickly. Look his debut season. He won two stages and the overall of the Circuit Franco-Belge. Add his name alongside Tyler Farrar, winner in 2009, and Juan Antonio Flecha, 2008.
"We have someone who can do the same with a 50cc motor that some guys with a 500cc motor can do," said OmegaPharma team manager, Marc Sergeant.
5. Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale), 23
"He has the head and the legs," explained Italy's national coach, Paolo Bettini. "He will shine in the Northern [classics] and elsewhere."
In his second year last year, the Italian won the Giro del Veneto and placed fifth at the Gent-Wevelgem one-day classic.
6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), 23
Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen won Gent-Wevelgem, a stage of the Giro d'Italia and the Tour of Britain in 2009. Last year, he won a stage at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race and came close at the Tour de France.
What's next? A stage win at the Tour de France and the classification of a week-long stage race.
7. Robert Gesink (Rabobank), 24
The Dutchman has already proved himself. Last year, he won the GP Montreal and the Giro dell'Emilia one-day races, and a stage at the Tour de Suisse. At the Tour de France he finished sixth overall.
He wants more. "I have promised my Dad to do even better next year. He would not have wanted it any other way." Gesink's dad died in a mountain bike accident in October.
8. Daniel Martin (Garmin-Cervélo), 24
We knew about the Martin before, but last year was the first time the Irishman started reeling in the wins. He won the Tre Valli Varesine and Japan Cup one-day races, and a stage and overall classification at the Tour of Poland.
Martin is now ready to win an Ardennes Classic or a Grand Tour stage.
9. Richie Porte (Saxo Bank), 25
The Australian is the old man of the list, but his first year as a professional was only last year. And what a first year! A stage win at the Tour de Romandie and then the Giro d'Italia: three days in the leader's pink jersey and winner of the young riders classification.
Team Manager Bjarne Riis can't help but turn to Porte this year as his leader. Fabian Cancellara and the Schleck brothers have left the team, and Alberto Contador faces a likely doping suspension.
Quotes like "I was seventh in the Giro and I have not cheated," shows he has grit and staying power.
10. Simon Spilak (Lampre), 24
Did you know that Slovenia's Spilak won the Tour de Romandie stage race last year? Yes, he finished second to Alejandro Valverde by 11 seconds, but the win became his when Valverde was finally given a doping suspension.
What's next? Lampre needs him to step up and become a team leader, let his team-mates know when he feels good and when he is ready to win. As it is now, he is a quiet type, like Sagan and Boasson Hagen. If he is successful, he will win another big stage race or one of the spring classics. |
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