1994 The year of Champions?

[Ruudz0r]

It’s still early to say but the 1994 generation seems to be really talented. In their first year as U23 rider a lot of these guys already impressed big time. So lets take a look at some of the biggest prospects in cycling.

Caleb Ewan

Date of birth: 11-07-1994
Country: Australia
Specialty: Sprinter
Started cycling at age: 10

Caleb Ewan already seems to be the fastest man in the U23 peloton, he has not been beaten much (if at all?) in a sprint this year. Ewan’s first results came on the track where he became junior world champion on the Omnium event. In January 2012 (Ewan was 17 at that time) Ewan beated the pro’s at the Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic, he won 2 of the 4 stages and he also won the GC. Ewan could have turned pro in 2014 but he decided he wants to stay in the U23 ranks for 1 more year.

Most Important results
2013 (U23)
1st Tour de l’Avenir stage 1 (2.Ncup)
1st Tour de l’Avenir stage 2 (2.Ncup)
1st La Cote Picarde (1.Ncup)
1st International Thuringen Rundfahrt U23 stage 4 (2.2U)
1st International Thuringen Rundfahrt U23 stage 7 (2.2U)
1st GP Palio del Recioto (1.2U)
1st Tour Alsace stage 2 (2.2)
3rd Tour de l’Avenir stage 3 (2.Ncup)

2012 (Junior)
1st National Championship Australia ITT
1st Bay Cycling Classic stage 2
1st Bay Cycling Classic stage 4
1st Gent – Menen (1.1)
1st Liege – La Gleize stage 2 (2.1)
1st Rothaus Regio-Tour International stage 4 (2.1)
2nd World Championship Road Race
2nd National Championship Australia Road Race
2nd GC: Bay Cycling Classic
2nd Trofeo Comune di Vertova (1.1)
2nd Trofeo Emilio Paganessi (1.1)
3rd GC: Keizer der Juniores (2.1)

2011 (Junior)
1st World Championship Omnium
1st Commonwealth Youth Games Road Race
1st Commonwealth Youth Games Men Team Time Trial
1st Oceanian championship Omnium
1st Australian championship Omnium
1st Australian championship Points race

Silvio Herklotz

Date of birth: 06-05-1994
Country: Germany
Specialty: GC guy / all rounder
Started cycling at age: 9

Silvio Herklotz is the GC hope for German cycling. Herklotz started winning at a very young age. As a junior that didn’t change for Herklotz, he showed some great promise in cyclocross races but his main focus has always been on the road. Herklotz is very all round but he prefers the harder races. Herklotz went in as one of the main favourites for this years Tour de l’Avenir (which doesn’t happen very often as a 1st year U23 rider) but unfortunately got sick.

Most important results
2013 (U23)
1st GC Tour Alsace (2.2)
1st National Championships Germany Road Race U23
1st Tour Alsace stage 5 (2.2)
2nd GP Palio del Recioto (1.2U)
2nd Giro del Belvedere di Villa di Cordignano (1.2U)
4th Rund um den Finanzplatz (1.2U)
4th GC Istrian Spring Trophy (2.2)
7th National Championships Germany Road Race Professional
8th GC Internationale Thuringen Rundfahrt U23 (2nd in stage 1, 3rd in stage 3)
12th GC Szlakiem Grodow Piastowskich (2.1 professional race)

2012 (Junior)
1st Giro della Lunigiana stage 2 (2.1)
1st Giro della Lunigiana stage 3 (2.1)
1st Giro della Lunigiana stage 4 (2.1)
1st German Champion Cyclo Cross
2nd GC GP General Patton (2.Ncup)
2nd GC Giro della Lunigiana (2.1)
2nd GP General Patton stage 1 (2.Ncup)
7th World championships Cyclo Cross (his last cyclo race)
9th European Championship Road Race

2011 (Junior)
1st GC Internationale Etappenfahrt Der Rad-junioren (2.1)
1st Course De La Paix Juniors stage 3
1st German Champion Cyclo cross
5th GC Course De La Paix Juniors (2.Ncup)
5th GC GP Denmark (2.Ncup)
5th GC Giro della Lunigiana (2.1)
6th European Championship Road Race

 

[Ruudz0r]

Matej Mohoric

Date of birth: 19-10-1994
Country: Slovenia
Specialty: GC guy / Climber
Started cycling at age: ?

Matej Mohoric had an incredible year in 2012, after a lot of victories he also took the most important one, the World Championship Road Race (he also got 2nd in the worlds ITT). Because he was so impressive in 2012 Cannondale decided to already offer him a pro deal for the year 2014. Mohoric accepted this deal, so he will ride for Cannondale in 2014. His 2013 however didn’t go exactly as planned, he had some minor injuries and quite a bit of bad luck in quite a few races.

Most important results
2013 (U23)
2nd Tour de l’Avenir stage 6 (2.Ncup)
2nd Tour de l’Avenir stage 7 (2.Ncup)
4th National Championship Slovenia Road Race (professional)
4th National Championship Slovenia ITT (professional)
12th Stage 2 Tour de Slovenie (2.1 professional)
16th GC Istarsko Proljece – Istrian Spring Trophy (2.2)
18th GC Tour of Qinghai Lake (2.HC professional)
26th GC Tour de Slovenie (2.1 professional)
26th GC Tour de l’Avenir (2.Ncup)

2012 (Junior)
1st World Championships Junior Men Road Race
1st GC Giro di Basilicata (2.1)
1st GC Giro della Lunigiana (2.1)
1st GC Oberosterreich-Rundfahrt (2.1)
1st Giro di Basilicata stage 1 (2.1)
1st Giro di Basilicata stage 2 (2.1)
1st Giro di Basilicata stage 3a ITT (2.1)
1st Giro di Basilicata stage 4 (2.1)
2nd World Championships Junior Men ITT
2nd Giro della Lunigiana stage 3 (2.1)
2nd Giro della Lunigiana stage 4 (2.1)
2nd Oberosterreich-Rundfahrt stage 2 (2.1)
3rd European Championship ITT
3rd Giro della Lunigiana stage 1 (2.1)
4th European Championship Road Race

2011 (Junior)
1st National Championship Slovenia ITT
2nd GC Kroz Istru (2.Ncup)
3rd GC GP General Patton (2.Ncup)
3rd GP General Patton stage 3(2.Ncup)
3rd Trofeo Guido Dorigo (1.1)
4th Kroz Istru stage 2 (2.Ncup)
7th GC Rothaus Regio-Tour International (2.1)
9th GC Trofeo Karlsberg (2.Ncup)
11th GC Course De La Paix Juniors (2.Ncup)
14th Paris Roubaix (1.Ncup)

Federico Zurlo

Date of birth: 25-02-1994
Country: Italy
Specialty: Sprints / Classics
Started cycling at age: 6

(a little longer story as he is 1 of my favourite riders)

Federico Zurlo is Italians biggest talent. He can count on his sprint but he can also ride away. He handles the hills well and even though he hasn’t ridden on cobbles a lot yet, he seems very talented on them (from the times he did ride on them). He has all the ingredients to be a future star in the classics. Zurlo won 8 races in 2012 (23 podiums). In 2013 he started very well as an U23 rider. The most riders seem to have difficulty to adept to the higher level of racing especially in Italy. But Zurlo had his first victory in March when the season in Italy just started. Zurlo then “gave away” his first victory to a team mate on the 30th of March, where he and his teammate Simion had ridden away from the rest.
At the end of April bad luck came Zurlo his way. Massimo Coledan blamed Zurlo for a crash and decided to attack him after the finish. (http://www.bicibg.it/01news/dettaglio.asp?id1=7&idC=2&idN=11653 ). Zurlo was out for a little less then a month due to injuries caused by Coledan’s attack.
He then came back strong in June, where he won the 3rd stage of Ville Saguenay in Canada. Less then 1 week later Zurlo was back racing in Italy and more bad luck came his way, he had a terrible crash and was out for 2 more months. He is now racing again since a short period of time. A lot is expected of Zurlo in 2014.

Most important results
2013 (U23)
1st Coupe Des Nationas Ville Saguenay stage 3 (2.Ncup)
1st Milano Busseto U23
1st Coppa Belricetto
1st Memorial Carlo Valentini
2nd GP Primavera Emilia Romagna
2nd La Bolghera Trentino Alto Adige
2nd Veneto – Treviso Popolarissima
3rd Coppa San Bernardino

2012 (Junior)
1st Gran Premio Pozzigroup
1st Gran Premio Sportivi Di Loria
1st Cittadella Colli Alti
1st Piccola Tre Valli ITT
1st Circuito Di Orsago
1st Giro Del Friuli Venzia Giulia stage 2
1st Trittico Vento stage 2
1st Tour of Istria stage 2 (2.Ncup)
2nd Trofeo Mario Valli
2nd GC Giro Del Friuli Venezia Giulia
2nd Tour of Istria stage 1
2nd Gran Premio Sportivi Di Sovilla La Piccola Sanremo (1.1)
2nd Medaglia Oro Ristorante La Colombera
3rd GC Tour of Istria (2.Ncup)
3rd Giro della Lunigiana stage 2 (2.1)
3rd Giro della Lunigiana stage 3 (2.1)
3rd Giro della Lunigiana stage 4 (2.1)
4th World Championship Road Race
7th Paris Roubaix Juniors (1.Ncup)

2011 (Junior)
1st Memorial Assuero Barlottini
1st GP Garage Miramonti
1st Trittico Veneto – Stage 3
1st Giro Della Veallata Feltrina
1st Circuito Dello Stella
1st Gran Premio Badoere
1st Gran Premio Liberazione Citta Di Massa
1st Trofeo Ulisse Lavaggi
1st Italian Champion Cyclocross
2nd Giro Del Ponte
2nd Trofeo Calzaturificio
7th European Championship Cyclocross

 

[Ruudz0r]

Merhawi Kudus
Date of birth: 23-01-1994
Country: Eritrea
Specialty: Climbing / GC guy
Started cycling at age: 14

Merhawi Kudus come from Eritrea a country where cycling is the number 1 sport. He lives in a city which lays 2350 meters above sea level.
Kudus is currently a a trainee for Bretagne Seche Environnement and hopes to sign a pro contract soon despite being only 19 years old. Kudus showed several times he has what it takes to make it to the top. The remarkable thing however is that he only started cycling when he was 14 years old so that is just 5 years ago! Merhawi Kudus his breakthrough was in the Tour of Rwanda at the end of 2012. He took the leaders jersey in stage 2 in the mountains (his favourite terrain) and managed to hold on to the jersey until stage 7. Kudus was only a junior at that time and was racing against some of the best African riders and some international riders aswell, he was the only junior at the race, the rest of the guys were all older.
At the start of 2013 he was allowed to race in La Tropicale Bongo a professional race with teams such as Lotto Belisol, Lampre, Europcar, MTN and Cofidis at the start. Kudus again showed himself, he was very aggressive and was in the break almost each stage. He kept impressing the rest of the season with victories in France, Italy and Eritrea.

Most important results
2013 (U23)
1st Freccia Dei Vini
1st GC Tour de Cote d’Or
1st Tour de la Cote d’Or stage 3
1st Tour of Eritrea stage 4 (2.2)
2nd GC Vuelta Ciclista a Leon (2.2)
2nd GC Tour of Eritrea (2.2)
3rd Cirie Pian Della Mussa
3rd Vuelta Ciclista a Leon stage 1 (2.2)
3rd Tour of Eritrea stage 2 (2.2)
3rd Tour de Franche Comte stage 4
4th Tour of Eritrea stage 1 (2.2)
4th GP de Paques a Aix les Bains
5th La Tropicale Amissa Bongo stage 3 (2.1 professional race)
6th Circuit of Asmara (1.2)
6th Tour de Cote d’Or stage 2
8th GC Fenkel Northern Redsea (2.2)
11th GC Tour de l’Avenir (2.Ncup)
17th GC Tour de l’Ain (2.1 professional race)
18th GC La Tropicale Amissa Bongo (2.1 professional race)

2012 (Junior)
1st Tour of Rwanda stage 1 (2.2)*
2nd Tour of Rwanda stage 3 (2.2)*
2nd Tour of Rwanda stage 4 (2.2)*
2nd Tour of Rwanda stage 5 (2.2)*
4th Tour of Rwanda stage 8 (2.2)*
8th Tour of Rwanda stage 7 (2.2)*
6th GC Tour of Rwanda (2.2)*

* Tour of Rwanda is not a junior race


Oskar Svendsen
Date of birth: 10-04-1994
Country: Norway
Specialty: Time Trial / GC
Started cycling at age: 15

Oskar Svendsen became world champion ITT (juniors) in 2012. This result came as a surprise to many. Svendsen didn’t show to much until the worlds at international level at the road. At the end of 2013 he surprised again this time it was not against the clock that he surprised but in the mountains. Svendsen finished 5th in GC in the Tour de l’Avenir (one of) the most important U23 race. Svendsen didn’t ride in many races yet where he could prove he could climb, but now that he could prove it, he did prove it.
Oskar Svendsen has only been riding his bike for 4 years now, he did different forms of skiing before he started to ride his bike. Because Svendsen has only been riding his bike for such a short period of time there is a big chance he still has a lot of growing margin!
Oskar Svendsen is also famous for his high VO2 max. His 97.5 ml/kg/min is the highest recorded VO2 max ever measured! At other tests of Watt measurement Svendsen also showed better results then Hagen and Hushovd did at the same age.

Most important results
2013 (U23)
5th GC Tour de l’Avenir (2.Ncup)
6th Tour de l’Avenir stage 7 (2.Ncup)
7th Tour de l’Avenir stage 6 (2.Ncup)
7th Tour de l’Avenir stage 4 (2.Ncup)
13th Norway National Championship TT (professional)

2012 (Junior)
1st World Championships Junior Men ITT
1st National Championship Junior Men ITT
1st National Championship Junior Individual Pursuit (track)
1st National Championship Junior Team Pursuit (track)
4th Course de la Paix stage 3 (2.Ncup)
9th GC Course de la Paix (2.Ncup)
7th Rothaus Regio-Tour International stage 1 (2.1)
11th European Championship ITT
12th GC Rothaus Regio-Tour International (2.1)

2011 (Junior)
12th GC Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt

 

[Ruudz0r]

and another reserved post.

 

[al_pacino]

Ewan does seem almost scarily good. Every picture you see of him winning all the other riders seem miles back.

 

[SafeBet]

Thanks for all the info. Good job. This Zurlo kid seems a bit too unlucky though.

 

[Ruudz0r]

I just noticed that on the first picture (the one of Ewan winning) you can also see Herklotz (on the left with blood on his face). It was quite an amazing race Formolo (next year Cannondale), Howson (ITT world champion next year Greenedge) and Herklotz rode away on a hill. Then Herklotz crashed in the descent and Howson didnt want to ride because Ewan was in the group behind, and Formolo was pretty mad.
Then in the sprint either Formolo ****s up or his bike ****s up (I think the 2nd) and he gets really ****ed let me check if I can find footage of that.

 

[Angliru]

More to come if anyone is interested.

I'm interested. I love to hear about the up and coming champions of the sport.

 

[Ruudz0r]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zfp1Sc-ERg

At the 2 minute mark Herklotz crashes.

Formolo getting very ****ed at the 2.42 mark throwing a bidon

 

[Gloin22]

Ludvingoon, Svendsen and Kudus missing so far from the 1994 with massive potential ( or could be already on your to do list ).

Agree about others of course.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Ludvingoon, Svendsen and Kudus missing so far from the 1994 with massive potential ( or could be already on your to do list ).

Agree about others of course.

Yeah was going to do Svendsen and Kudus next, and then Probably Eisenhart and Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez. Then maybe guys like Ludvigsson, Bohli, Wurtz but dont know about that yet. I ll do 2 or 4 more tomorrow if I dont have to work.

 

[SafeBet]

I just noticed that on the first picture (the one of Ewan winning) you can also see Herklotz (on the left with blood on his face). It was quite an amazing race Formolo (next year Cannondale), Howson (ITT world champion next year Greenedge) and Herklotz rode away on a hill. Then Herklotz crashed in the descent and Howson didnt want to ride because Ewan was in the group behind, and Formolo was pretty mad.
Then in the sprint either Formolo ****s up or his bike ****s up (I think the 2nd) and he gets really ****ed let me check if I can find footage of that.

For what I know Formolo can't sprint at all. He crashed a couple of days ago during the sprint at the Ruota d'Oro. Afterwards he said something like: I never try to sprint and then the first time I try, I crash. Even his DS told him not to sprint cause he had no chance winning

He should be good to go for the U23 race though.

 

[pugdog]

Great thread. Thanks!

 

[Pentacycle]

Tiesj Benoot, also from 1994, was 17th in the GP Wallonie.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Oskar Svendsen, Lucy Garner, Jessy Druyts, Phil Bauhaus (that's such a badass name).

 

[The Hitch]

Dominate the youth ranks all you want 1994, with Quintana and Sagan already dominating the top tier of the sport, and plenty of others showing real potential - Phinney, Kwiatkowski, Pinot, Moser, Aru, 1990 is quite simply heads and above the rest when it comes to year of champions.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Dominate the youth ranks all you want 1994, with Quintana and Sagan already dominating the top tier of the sport, and plenty of others showing real potential - Phinney, Kwiatkowski, Pinot, Moser, Aru, 1990 is quite simply heads and above the rest when it comes to year of champions.

"I am Glen,you either like me or you don't..i'd rather you like me but if you don't, just leave me alone and i will do the same"

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Dominate the youth ranks all you want 1994, with Quintana and Sagan already dominating the top tier of the sport, and plenty of others showing real potential - Phinney, Kwiatkowski, Pinot, Moser, Aru, 1990 is quite simply heads and above the rest when it comes to year of champions.

I think it's just because the older the riders get, the better they get. I mean, 1991 looks a lot better than 1994 as well. As does 1992 etc. That said, 1990 does look quite talented.

 

[Ruudz0r]

I think it's just because the older the riders get, the better they get. I mean, 1991 looks a lot better than 1994 as well. As does 1992 etc. That said, 1990 does look quite talented.

I dont think 1992 does look better then 1994. A lot of the 1994 guys are riding against the 92 guys now and already beating them in their first year as an U23 rider. Yes there are obviously some 92 riders who already turned pro but they werent able to ride nearly as good in their first year U23 as the 94 generation is doing.

Same goes for the 1990 guys, but thats harder to compare as the 94 riders are already riding against the 92 guys.

Obviously there are exceptions but in the 94 guys there are a lot of guys who can already compete in their first year as an U23 rider. And there are even guys who can already dominate.

 

[The Hitch]

I think it's just because the older the riders get, the better they get. I mean, 1991 looks a lot better than 1994 as well. As does 1992 etc. That said, 1990 does look quite talented.

Well obviously at that age being older has major advantages so I wasn't making a direct comparison between their current levels.

But 1994 is just dominating the youth ranks and we've seen over the years how that often works out.

1990 is at the top of the world already, miles better than 89, 88, 87,86. For now it really is the year of champions.

 

[roundabout]

86ers are quite good. May not have superstars like Quintana and Sagan, but plenty of people near the top

 

[jens_attacks]

/thread over

 

[Ruudz0r]

Added Kudus and Svendsen (post 3)

 

[Christian]

What type of rider is Fredrik Ludvigsson? I saw him near the top of result sheets a lot this year but it's not always easy to tell what type of parcours it was.

I remember in another thread a user said that Fredrik beat his brother's numbers in an Argos training camp up a climb in Mallorca.

I hope he will go on to be a great rider

 

[Ruudz0r]

What type of rider is Fredrik Ludvigsson? I saw him near the top of result sheets a lot this year but it's not always easy to tell what type of parcours it was.

I remember in another thread a user said that Fredrik beat his brother's numbers in an Argos training camp up a climb in Mallorca.

I hope he will go on to be a great rider

Same type as his brother, ITT/Prologue + Hills