New generation
Professional cycling could anticipate a dazzling future if judged by the performances of riders like Michal Kwiatkowski and Peter Sagan. Aged 23 and 24 respectively, more established talents like Fabian Cancellara (32), Alejandro Valverde (33), and Cadel Evans (37), had no answer for the youthful duo that decided the race between them.
Movistar’s Nairo Quintana was the only rider able to come close to matching the performances of Chris Froome at last year’s Tour de France. The 24-year-old Colombian has given every indication of continuing in a similar vein in 2014, having won last month’s Tour de San Luis – his first race of the season.
Carlos Betancur (Ag2r-La Mondiale), fifth overall at last year’s Giro d’Italia, and winner of the best young rider competition, is another to have started 2014 in similar style. The 24-year-old claimed overall victory, the points competition, and stage one at the Tour du Haut Var.
And young American, Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing), seems to have stepped up a gear this season, leading the inaugural Dubai Tour from start to finish after winning the opening stage, and last week posting a top 10 finish at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Still only 23, Phinney has time trial pedigree in abundance and the physical stature to become a formidable force in the Classics.
Add to the mix 24-year-old Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky), who rode with such confidence in the mountains of last year’s Tour that he seemed on occasion to be called back by Froome and Richie Porte, Garmin Sharp’s Andrew Talanksy (25), second in last year’s in Paris-Nice and a top 10 finisher at the Tour, and 22-year-old Kenny Elissonde (FDJ.fr), who held off Chris Horner and Vincenzo Nibali on the brutal slopes of the Alto de L’Angliru to win the queen stage of last year’s Vuelta a Espana, and the future looks bright.
Kwiatkowski, whose 24-year-old countryman, Rafal Makja (Tinkoff-Saxo), is another not to be overlooked, has raised the bar, however. The response of pro cycling’s young Turks will be intriguing to watch.
