Junior racing - The stars of the future

[Ruudz0r]

Lets give this topic a bump.

Mathieu Van Der Poel won the first stage yesterday in Course de la Paix (2.NCup) in front of Mads Pedersen and Nathan van Hooydonck. 3 of the biggest talents in the junior category.

Mads Pedersen won stage 2A a short time trial this morning and takes over the lead in the GC from Van Der Poel who came in 8th (he had a little trouble with his knee and couldnt produce as much power as he would have liked).

Later today there is a 63K stage with a punchy finish.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Germain Burton won stage 2B! All the expected names are doing good.

Tomorrow another nice stage.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Elie Gesbert won todays stage.

He was at the front with Van Der Poel after the last climb. Van Der Poel got a flat with 10K to go (he still got in 3rd though).

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

So you mean to tell me that after an undefeated season in the cross, in his first road race, against strong competition, he won a sprint, then got 8th in the TT despite knee problems and then 3rd in a hilly stage despite flatting in the final?

 

[Ruudz0r]

No, he started his road season with a 14th place in a belgium race. After that he won a small race in the Netherlands, then got 12th in a small race in NL and then won a small race in belgium.

So the victory in the first stage of Course de la Paix (which is a big junior race) was his 5th road race day of the season (unless im missing some results in very small races).

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

No, he started his road season with a 14th place in a belgium race. After that he won a small race in the Netherlands, then got 12th in a small race in NL and then won a small race in belgium.

So the victory in the first stage of Course de la Paix (which is a big junior race) was his 5th road race day of the season (unless im missing some results in very small races).

ah okay, dewielersite didn't have those you mentioned

still awesome though

 

[Ruudz0r]

Mads Pedersen won the last stage, he was already leading in GC so he takes that aswell.

 

[Bushman]

Bump.
I mentioned him before, but I will just give a short Update on Casper Pedersen. This was his first season as a junior and he has done really well. He has ridden some of the biggest junior races like Trofeo Karlsberg, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Istria and Grand Prix Rüebeland. He has mostly been a helper and has been a really strong one (especially in PR where he was took his final turn for Mads Pedersen about 12 k out on the third or second to last cobblestone section) but he has also had some decent results like 8th in the tt in Trofeo Karlsberg and 9th in the gc in Istria (2nd in the youth competition).

His best results though has come on the track where he got a bronze medal in the junior track worlds Omnium, which was his biggest goal of the season. And then yesterday he was 3rd in the Danish elite champs in Omnium behind Møller Nielsen and Casper Folsach.

It is of course too early to say what type of rider he will be, but he is certainly a very strong roleur with a good itt and decent kick on the shorter hills. He also has quite a strong finish (but by no means a sprinter).

Would be very interested if you guys had any information about som exciting youngsters.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Another basso for the future.

 

[janraaskalt]

Another basso for the future.

He can't be a junior and only a few people know who he is, since you did not provide a name.

 

[Ruudz0r]

2013 was his 2nd year as a U23 (Leonardo Basso) but I actually dont think he ll make it to the pro ranks, he really needs to step it up in 2014. Only had 1 win last year and didnt really show himself in the first year as a u23. As a junior he was okay but nothing special either.

Dont think he is family of Ivan The Terrible but not sure about that.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

2013 was his 2nd year as a U23 (Leonardo Basso) but I actually dont think he ll make it to the pro ranks, he really needs to step it up in 2014. Only had 1 win last year and didnt really show himself in the first year as a u23. As a junior he was okay but nothing special either.

Dont think he is family of Ivan The Terrible but not sure about that.

He isn't but still a Basso.

 

[42x16ss]

2013 was his 2nd year as a U23 (Leonardo Basso) but I actually dont think he ll make it to the pro ranks, he really needs to step it up in 2014. Only had 1 win last year and didnt really show himself in the first year as a u23. As a junior he was okay but nothing special either.

Dont think he is family of Ivan The Terrible but not sure about that.

Any relation to Marino Basso?

 

[Ruudz0r]

Lets get some new life in this thread.

Last sunday the juniors had their first major international race; Paris - Roubaix. After Mads Wurtz Schmitz in 2012, Mads Pedersen in 2013 we saw another Danish winner Magnus Bak Klaris (he is a little guy that doesnt look suited for a race like this at all, but he has a great engine).
Magnus Bak Klaris (who was already seen as a huge talent a while ago by Jakob747 from this forum!) arrived solo just ahead of a sprinting group of 13 riders where Casper Pedersen (another Danish guy) sprinted to a 2nd place ahead of Belgium Enzo Wouters.
There was only 1 first year junior in the first group Gavin Hoover (USA) who finished 10th.

Video of the finish can be found here: http://sporten.tv2.dk/2014-04-13-dansk-juniorrytter-vinder-paris-roubaix-0

Edit: besides kudos to Jakob747 also kudos to Bushman for talking about C Pedersen!

 

[RedheadDane]

Yeah! It's becoming a proud tradition that Denmark takes the Junior P-R!

Personally I was "betting" on Mads Corell...

 

[Ruudz0r]

As I didnt have much to do, some of the junior names to watch this year.

(In no particular order)
Micheal Storer (Aus) – 1997 Strong time trialist who can climb very well. Already won the Oceana Championship ITT as a first year junior!
Ivan Venter (Rsa) – 1996 – Background in mountainbiking does well in the ITT and on Climbs.
http://www.cyclingupdates.com/interview-ivan-venter/
Diego Pablo Sevilla (Esp) – 1996 – allrounder who can hold his own on every terrain and has a sharp sprint to finish it off. He will mainly ride in Spain though as most Spanish juniors do.
(I did an interview with him earlier this year: http://www.cyclingupdates.com/interview-diego-pablo-sevilla/ )
Zeke Mostov (Usa) – 1996 - already had a really strong season last year as a first year junior, has a good TT + does well on hard terrain.
Jorge Ivan Gomez (Col) – 1996 – Climber who is very light, but can do surprisingly well on the flat as well. Although we will probably not see him in Europe.
Nicolay Cherkasov (Rus) – 1996 – ITT specialist, already became European ITT champion juniors last year.
Igor Decreane (Bel) – 1996 – Super ITT rider, Won the World championship ITT for juniors in his first year along with a few more ITTs.
Kristoffer Halvorsen (Nor) – 1996 – A strong sprinter who does best when the road goes slightly uphill. Already had 2 international wins last year and a lot more good results.
Magnus Bak Klaris (Den) – 1996 – Little guy with a big engine, can do really well on all terrain.
Casper Pedersen (Den) – 1996 – Likes hard races (especially with bad weather conditions) has a great engine and a good sprint.
Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) – 1996 – He was the strongest 1st year junior of Italia last year, he is best at difficult terrain.
Nicola Conci (Ita) – 1997 – He won 19!! races last year in Italy. It is hard to say what kinda rider he is as he won on all terrains (sprints, solo, ITT, Mountains), but he is a major talent for sure.
Tom Wirtgen (Lux) – 1996 – Road a lot of international races last year as a 1st year junior and did really well in them. He has a strong ITT but is really all-round.
Bram Welten (Ned) – 1997 – He is a first year junior and has already won 2 (out of 4) races this year.

Rider im looking forward the most to see race however is Adrien Costa (Usa) – 1997 – Will be a first year junior but has already beaten U23 riders. He is pure class and goes best when the road goes uphill.

If you have anything to add please do !

 

[Wallenquist]

I've written a little about juniors to watch in 2014 before the start of the season, you can find it here:

Part I
Part II
Part III

Somehow it's very similar to Ruudz0r list

 

[Ruudz0r]

I've written a little about juniors to watch in 2014 before the start of the season, you can find it here:

Part I
Part II
Part III

Somehow it's very similar to Ruudz0r list

Nice already read it a few weeks back via your twitter account didnt know you were active here as well! Good to see. I should have included Touze and Muller for sure especially as I didnt include anyone from France/Swiss!

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Wallenquist, I like your blog as well. Great to see some Junior racing expertise here.

Might I add Lennard Kämna from Germany to the list? Last weekend he won two stages and the overall GC of the Cottbuser Juniorenrundfahrt. His ITT performance was outstanding: the 11,4 km course was ridden in 13:50 min - 49,45 km/h! Last year's ITT world champion Igor Decreane managed 48.539km/h (on a longer course, sure) in the World's ITT.

 

[Wallenquist]

Thanks guys

Kämna is good pick, i would add another guy from Germany, Leo Appelt, winner of last year's European Youth Festival road race and second in time trial where he was beaten by another prospect: Erlend Blikra who won Volta Limburg for u19 this year already.

 

[Netserk]

Lets get some new life in this thread.

Last sunday the juniors had their first major international race; Paris - Roubaix. After Mads Wurtz Schmitz in 2012, Mads Pedersen in 2013 we saw another Danish winner Magnus Bak Klaris (he is a little guy that doesnt look suited for a race like this at all, but he has a great engine).
Magnus Bak Klaris (who was already seen as a huge talent a while ago by Jakob747 from this forum!) arrived solo just ahead of a sprinting group of 13 riders where Casper Pedersen (another Danish guy) sprinted to a 2nd place ahead of Belgium Enzo Wouters.
There was only 1 first year junior in the first group Gavin Hoover (USA) who finished 10th.

Video of the finish can be found here: http://sporten.tv2.dk/2014-04-13-dansk-juniorrytter-vinder-paris-roubaix-0

Edit: besides kudos to Jakob747 also kudos to Bushman for talking about C Pedersen!

My first thought when I saw that picture: Why are the two Danes not wearing the same jersey?

 

[trevim]

Danes usually come strong at younger ages but then fade away. Let's see what these kids can do.

 

[Roude Leiw]

As I didnt have much to do, some of the junior names to watch this year.
Tom Wirtgen (Lux) – 1996 – Road a lot of international races last year as a 1st year junior and did really well in them. He has a strong ITT but is really all-round.


If you have anything to add please do !

Rides for UC Dippach which is the same club who brought Bob Jungels up through the ranks. One of the better, if not the best of our clubs for bringing up young talent ( with AC Contern perhaps)

 

[Bushman]

I actually believe that year 96 is as talented as year 95 of Denmark. I know that Mads Pedersen and Krigbaum are big talents, but I feel like Casper Pedersen and Magnus Bak Klaris has a lot to offer too. They are both very well rounded and can win on different types of terrains.

Casper Pedersen (Den) – 1996 – Likes hard races (especially with bad weather conditions) has a great engine and a good sprint.

Yes I agree about this. He also has a very good ITT, fx he had numerous top 10s in ITTs last year as a first year junior. As I mentioned before he is very talented on the track as well. Last year he was 3rd at the World championships in omnium and earlier this year he set a new record by winning the nationals on track in 6 different disciplines (he competed in 7 disciplines and was "only" second in the points race, where he was marked very heavily).
To add to his strenghts, he has good bike handling skills and he has a very good mentality and he never refuses to Work for his team mates if he can see that they are in a better position, shown by his performance in PR where he closed numerous attacks and road very unselfish when Klaris was in front.

 

[Wallenquist]

I've added to my blog some brief reviews for smaller junior races held in last few weeks, feel free to read, comment and add some other junior events or junior performances that worth a mention: http://cyclingu19.blogspot.com/2014/04/smaller-races-review.html