Back when Tom Boonen was flying over the cobbles of Paris–Roubaix, Fabian Cancellara was winning his first Monuments and fans were still debating Lance Armstrong’s dominance, many of the riders now regarded as the peloton’s rising stars were mere infants – or hadn’t even been born yet. That sounds absurd at first. Yet professional cycling is currently undergoing its next generational shift. And the 2005 and 2006 cohorts are no longer just on the horizon. They have already arrived.
Anyone who takes a look at the start lists for major races today will quickly realise that the average age of the most promising young talents is falling steadily. Whereas in the past a 23- or 24-year-old was regarded as a promising young rider, today teenagers and 20-year-olds are already being put to the test at the very top of the sport. This trend has been accelerated by riders such as Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. Those who show exceptional form at a young age now get the chance to prove themselves at WorldTour level much earlier.
From talent to professional in record time
The days when talented players had to spend several years developing their skills in smaller teams seem to be over. Development teams are organised more professionally than ever before, performance data is analysed in minute detail even at junior level, and the big clubs are searching the globe for the next exceptional talent.
This is fundamentally changing career paths. Instead of gaining their first experience at professional level in their early twenties, the best talents are now often already under contract with the world’s biggest clubs at that age. The leap from the youth ranks is becoming smaller, whilst the expectations are all the greater.
Fans should take note of these names
One of the most exciting riders of this new generation is Paul Seixas. Born in 2006, the Frenchman is regarded as one of his country’s greatest stage race talents in many years. Although he is actually still at the very beginning of his career, there is already speculation as to how far his potential might take him in the major national stage races.
Expectations are similarly high for the Norwegian Jorgen Nordhagen. The former cross-country skiing specialist is regarded as one of the most promising climbing talents of his 2005 cohort. The fact that Visma | Lease a Bike, of all teams, is monitoring his development with such close attention demonstrates the high regard in which the Norwegian is already held.
Perhaps even more striking is the Briton Matthew Brennan. Born in 2005, this all-rounder has already proved that he can hold his own against older rivals. His sprinting ability, racing intelligence and flair for the classics make him a rider who is likely to feature at the front of the pack more often in the years to come.
Feeling old yet? The American Ashlin Barry is a fair bit younger (born in 2007). He, too, is a prime example of a trend that is increasingly shaping the world of cycling: the stars of tomorrow are being spotted at an ever-earlier age.
What is interesting here is that Nordhagen, Brennan and Barry are all under contract with Visma – even though Barry is still riding for the junior squad. Nevertheless, it shows just how much the Dutch team is banking on young talent.
When 20-year-olds are no longer a surprise
This is not just about individual talents. Rather, perceptions of age have changed. When Cadel Evans won the Tour de France in 2011, he was 34 years old. Chris Froome enjoyed his greatest successes in his late twenties and early thirties. Today, such career trajectories seem almost like relics from a bygone era.
These days, it’s no longer a cause for disbelief when a 20- or 21-year-old is among the front-runners in major races. Instead, the next question is often: Can this rider win a Grand Tour one day? Pogacar, Evenepoel and numerous other young stars have raised the bar significantly.
And what about Germany?
From a German perspective, too, it is worth taking a look at the 2005 and 2006 age groups. Riders such as Bruno Kessler have already demonstrated the potential of the country’s young talent. German cycling fans are hoping that this strong generation of juniors and under-23s will in future produce riders who can not only act as domestiques but also decide races themselves.
Admittedly, there are still a few steps in the development process to be taken before then. However, an international comparison also shows that the next generation is no longer waiting to be given a chance at some point. They are seizing it themselves.
The real insight
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of this development isn’t to be found in wattage figures, training methods or talent development at all. Rather, it lies in the realisation of just how quickly time flies. The riders born in 2005 came into the world at a time when many of today’s TOUR readers were already following races, taking part in their first amateur cycle marathons or discussing the great rivalries between Boonen, Cancellara and Bettini. A good two decades later, it is precisely these age groups who are stepping into the limelight. Or to put it another way: the children of yesteryear are suddenly the professionals of today. And the next generation is already in the starting blocks.
Lukas Niebuhr
Editor