Tour de l’Avenir 2023 (August 20-27)

[SafeBet]

Somebody should also take a look at Pellizzari. He has no idea on how to manage his efforts and he's a terrible bike handler but the guy can climb.

 

[Red Rick]

I was gonna ask "Del Toro to UAE when" but ofcourse the rumors are already in

 

[Valv.Piti]

If you're Movistar, you really want to sign this guy. But of course they are gonna miss out, just like they are with any spanish speaking climbing talent these days. Only thing that they can get their hands on are rouleurs and flandrians, lmao.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Smashes everyone riding for a team I'm not going to even pretend I've any knowledge of.

Honestly hope this guy wins something big, the Mexicans will just turn up randomly in absolutely huge numbers.

 

[yaco]

Ricci will just clean this up probably. Still find it stupid he's here.

It's worse in the women's edition of L'Avenir when you have riders like Realini in the field.

 

[yaco]

You also have remember that he still hasn't turned 20, is on a small club and racing against guys that are already pros.

Why didn't Italy take De Pretto to this race - Would have been handy in the hilly/punchy stages.

 

[Mayomaniac]

If you're Movistar, you really want to sign this guy. But of course they are gonna miss out, just like they are with any spanish speaking climbing talent these days. Only thing that they can get their hands on are rouleurs and flandrians, lmao.

I also don't know if Movistar's less structured approach is ideal for a guy who comes from a small club (Mexican, but based in San Marino) who should have lots of room left to improve. I think a bit more structure and training camps organized by the team would be a lot better for him.

Otherwise you're spot on about Movistar needing to go all in on guys like this, but last year they also missed the Mexican Edgar Cadena, who was great in the Spanish u23 races and won a mountain stage in the Vuelta a Colombia. Unzue just loves his rouleurs...

 

[yaco]

Think most teams in the peleton would be interested in Del Toro! It shouldn't just be UAE? I think he could do with one year in the under 23's to have him ready for the WT.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Why didn't Italy take De Pretto to this race - Would have been handy in the hilly/punchy stages.

The Italian selection is always a bit strange and based on not having too many guys from one big u23/ct team, but this team is pretty solid.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Think most teams in the peleton would be interested in Del Toro! It shouldn't just be UAE? I think he could do with one year in the under 23's to have him ready for the WT.

The way he manages to get results while the rest of his team dnf races (see valle d'aosta) is impressive. The guy does things with usually no team support (today he actually had a solid teammate) and doesn't seem to have big problems navigating in the peloton. He also does some cx and seems to be a decent bike handler.

 

[YavorD]

Del Toro winning this after losing approximately 7 hours in the TTT would be the most impressive thing.

Tbh, he only lost 27 seconds to Riccitello.
Although, seeing all like 10 teams s.t at 2 minutes, makes me think that there was a cap on the possible gap or something.

I simply can't imagine 7 teams finishing S.t. in a 26km U23 TTT.

 

[Escarabajo]

We have our new Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio!
Impressive rider this one!

 

[Escarabajo]

I was hoping more from our next Colombian promise Diego Pescador. He lost 3 minutes, but not as bad for an 18 years old.

 

[KZD]

I didn't know Del Toro, but he seems to be a very talented young man. I think he could be a good fit for EF, they have several Latin American riders already.

 

[SafeBet]

I was hoping more from our next Colombian promise Diego Pescador. He lost 3 minutes, but not as bad for an 18 years old.

Pescador worked for his teammate Pinzon. Colombia pulled for a long time on Loze.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Somebody should also take a look at Pellizzari. He has no idea on how to manage his efforts and he's a terrible bike handler but the guy can climb.

This, there's some work to do when it comes to his weaknesses, but the climbing talent is there.

 

[Escarabajo]

Pescador worked for his teammate Pinzon. Colombia pulled for a long time on Loze.

Ah. Thanks. I need to watch the stage somewhere.

 

[hfgon1]

One minute lead now for Riccitello after an impressive ITT. Think he will win it all now. But Del Toro, Pellizzari and Rondel seem to be the more interesting guys to look at for the future.

 

[Samamba]

Looks like Riccitello is on his way to win it.

I really wonder if this kid would've been riding here if UCI points weren't a thing. Pro's should not be able to get UCI points in u23 races, if they want to ride it for development reasons, sure no problem, but their UCI points shouldn't count. Israel already did it with Berwick in Alsace. If you can get 3rd in a Giro stage or are part of the 20 best climbers in the last week of a GT, I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be riding u23 races anymore. Atleast Ricci is actually still young (and looks like he's 15), can't say the same about Berwick.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Looks like Riccitello is on his way to win it.

I really wonder if this kid would've been riding here if UCI points weren't a thing. Pro's should not be able to get UCI points in u23 races, if they want to ride it for development reasons, sure no problem, but their UCI points shouldn't count. Israel already did it with Berwick in Alsace. If you can get 3rd in a Giro stage or are part of the 20 best climbers in the last week of a GT, I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be riding u23 races anymore. Atleast Ricci is actually still young (and looks like he's 15), can't say the same about Berwick.

Ayuso, Rodriguez and Uijtdebroeks have all raced this once in the past two years when already at their current, non-UCI-point-needing teams. In fact, Rodriguez was in his second pro season at the time whereas Riccitello has only turned pro this year. It’s simply a pretty big deal to win this one even when you’ve already turned pro. If it was solely about the UCI points, Israel would have sent Riccitello to the Arctic Race or something else with a weak field they’re doing in this period.

 

[Red Rick]

Ayuso, Rodriguez and Uijtdebroeks have all raced this once in the past two years when already at their current, non-UCI-point-needing teams. In fact, Rodriguez was in his second pro season at the time whereas Riccitello has only turned pro this year. It’s simply a pretty big deal to win this one even when you’ve already turned pro. If it was solely about the UCI points, Israel would have sent Riccitello to the Arctic Race or something else with a weak field they’re doing in this period.

Yeah, I think l'Avenir would be wosre if it didn't have Ricitello in it. Would make Del Toro's win yesterday much harder to place into context.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Yeah, I think l'Avenir would be wosre if it didn't have Ricitello in it. Would make Del Toro's win yesterday much harder to place into context.

I mean, it’s still clear that this is not the strongest cohort of pure climbing ability we’ve ever seen at this race, otherwise allrounder Christen would not be in 6th on GC. But based on the climbing times on Loze, it isn’t the weakest either.

 

[Samamba]

Ayuso, Rodriguez and Uijtdebroeks have all raced this once in the past two years when already at their current, non-UCI-point-needing teams. In fact, Rodriguez was in his second pro season at the time whereas Riccitello has only turned pro this year. It’s simply a pretty big deal to win this one even when you’ve already turned pro. If it was solely about the UCI points, Israel would have sent Riccitello to the Arctic Race or something else with a weak field they’re doing in this period.

Ayuso was pro for like 2 weeks, Uijtdebroeks came right out of the juniors and never did a GT. Even Rodriguez never did a GT before riding Avenir and was struggling a bit as a pro (and no I didn't really like that he did Avenir btw). So I don't think those comparisons are fair at all.

Look obviously I don't know for sure, it's a feeling that I have given Israels trackrecord of sending riders to amateur races for UCI points (like Einhorn and Berwick) and them apparently even telling their Devo riders to try to not take away lots of points at the Israeli champs last year. I don't think Ricci being here is nearly as bad as the other cases, but I still don't think he would've been here without UCI points counting. It could be that it was always on his schedule given his a first year, but I doubt that given he already rode a GT and did that really good. He literally was one of the best 20 climbers in the last mountain stages.

Anyways to be clear, I don't blame Israel, they're playing the system just like others do, I just think it would be a good thing to not make UCI points count if a pro rides u23 races or rides for the devo team. Pros that need it would still race it, but atleast you eliminate the chance that teams are just sending them there for points. These pro-devo team construction should be used for development, not for easy UCI points grabbing. Just my opinion ofcourse.

About Arctic race, that parcours did not suit Riccitello, All races right now are way harder to get 200 points in that l'Avenir for a rider like him.

 

[SafeBet]

One minute lead now for Riccitello after an impressive ITT. Think he will win it all now. But Del Toro, Pellizzari and Rondel seem to be the more interesting guys to look at for the future.

I believe Piganzoli is a better prospect than Pellizzari, at least if we're talking stage racing. Basso once said he's got comparable numbers to Mas at same age, and he can also TT when in shape.

Pellizzari is more of a long shot. W/kg are surely there but a team will need to work on many things with him. Currently I'd say he's more likely to become a stage hunter.

 

[DNP-Old]

One minute lead now for Riccitello after an impressive ITT. Think he will win it all now. But Del Toro, Pellizzari and Rondel seem to be the more interesting guys to look at for the future.

Rondel is a rollerskater and has only been cycling for a year and a half. It surprises me how little noise there is in regards to his future. He has insane potential. Tudor promoted the entire U23 team, except for him. He should be on every self respecting WorldTour radar by now.

The real deal here is Diego Pescador. It doesn't surprise me at all he's already doing top 10s here, despite being the youngest in the race and having little to no professional guidance. Of course incapable Jaramillo decides to make Pinzon the leader, rather than giving the one bright spot in Colombian cycling free reign.