As there is not a discussion thread about Lutsenko i took it upon myself to create one.
Arguably the greatest talent in recent years to emerge from Kazakhstan in the later years, as he bursted onto the scene in the 2012 season with a stage win in Tour de l'Avenir, and a 11th place in the GC in Tour de l'Ain that was won by Talansky, but most importantly he became the U23 World Champion, and from there his career in Astana started.
2013 was not the season that was predicted from most cycling juornalists for Lutsenko, but it was still solid a solid season, he represented his team colors well in the Tour, almost landing a stage win as the last survivor of a breakaway.
2014 was a much better year for Alexey, he won the TT of Tour of Denmark, and most people where scratching their heads of the thought that Lutsenko could time trial, and later in the year, he got second at the 9th stage in the Vuelta Espana, just beaten by Anacona. And later in the season won the Tour of Alamaty
And that brings us to this year, rode a very strong Tour of Flanders, and got his first World Tour stage win yesterday in Tour de Suisse.
Above all Lutsenko is a highly entertaining rider that rides with his guts, never gives up and keeps attacking. And has shown to be a highly versetile rider. And is for me one of the most interesting prospects in young cycling to follow, after many riders that where predicted as super talents and did not live up to it. (Zeits, Dyachenko and Nepomnyachshiy) Kazakhstan finaly has a rider that might some day live up to the legacy of Vinokourov.
And in my opinion he will morph in to a competetive GC rider in the future, not quite climbing with the best, but always making up for it with crazy attacks to claw back time.
Arguably the greatest talent in recent years to emerge from Kazakhstan in the later years, as he bursted onto the scene in the 2012 season with a stage win in Tour de l'Avenir, and a 11th place in the GC in Tour de l'Ain that was won by Talansky, but most importantly he became the U23 World Champion, and from there his career in Astana started.
2013 was not the season that was predicted from most cycling juornalists for Lutsenko, but it was still solid a solid season, he represented his team colors well in the Tour, almost landing a stage win as the last survivor of a breakaway.
2014 was a much better year for Alexey, he won the TT of Tour of Denmark, and most people where scratching their heads of the thought that Lutsenko could time trial, and later in the year, he got second at the 9th stage in the Vuelta Espana, just beaten by Anacona. And later in the season won the Tour of Alamaty
And that brings us to this year, rode a very strong Tour of Flanders, and got his first World Tour stage win yesterday in Tour de Suisse.
Above all Lutsenko is a highly entertaining rider that rides with his guts, never gives up and keeps attacking. And has shown to be a highly versetile rider. And is for me one of the most interesting prospects in young cycling to follow, after many riders that where predicted as super talents and did not live up to it. (Zeits, Dyachenko and Nepomnyachshiy) Kazakhstan finaly has a rider that might some day live up to the legacy of Vinokourov.
And in my opinion he will morph in to a competetive GC rider in the future, not quite climbing with the best, but always making up for it with crazy attacks to claw back time.