Cycling: Last year, Egan Bernal (Ineos) and Richard Carapaz (Movistar) drew attention to themselves. In this season both of them achieved their first Grand Tour victory. Can we expect similar strong performances from our newcomers of 2019? We've identified five pros who are predicted to have a great future.
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)
From the Continental team to the podium at the Vuelta a Espana. Tadej Pogacar made this jump within a year. The Slovenian switched from Ljubljana – Gusto Xaurum to UAE Team Emirates for the 2019 season. He already demonstrated his great talent at the beginning of the year with his stage and overall victory at the Volta ao Algarve. But at the end of the season we were told that he would rise to become a top rider in his first year as a pro. At the Vuelta a Espana, the 21-year-old won three stages and the youth jersey. He also finished his first Grand Tour in third place. There is no question: we have to reckon with Tadej Pogacar in the coming decade.
Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck – Quick Step)
Remco Evenepoel has been referred to as the new Eddy Merckx for over a year. However, the world public had not really seen much of him before 2019. That should change abruptly this season. Aged just 19, the Belgian proved competitive at the Vuelta a San Juan, the Presidential Tour of Turkey, the Tour de Romandie and the Hammer Series in Limburg, among others. As if that wasn't good enough at such a young age, Remco Evenepoel shifted up a few gears in the second half of the season. He won the Belgium Tour, a stage in the Adriatica Ionica Race and even his first WorldTour race in the Clasica San Sebastian. He crowned himself when he became European Time Trial Champion in August and Vice World Champion in September. We still don't know whether he will one day be able to follow in the huge footsteps of Eddy Merckx. But one thing is clear: Remco Evenepoel will help shape road cycling for the next 15 years.
Sergio Higuita (EF Education First)
So far, the name Higuita should be known to many mainly through Rene Higuita. The national goalkeeper of Colombia became known as El Loco (Spanish for: the crazy one) after his scorpion kick at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Sergio Higuita has absolutely nothing to do with him - apart from the nationality and the surname. But if the 22-year-old continues like this, he should soon gain similar notoriety. Because the strong climber not only convinces with his strength on the mountain, but also with his constantly good mood. He joined EF Education First in May this year from Manzana – Postobon and the Equipo Euskadi. After numerous top 10 finishes, he made his breakthrough with a stage win at the Vuelta a Espana. In his current team, he should enjoy the freedom to achieve further top results in 2020.
Pavel Sivakov (Ineos)
As if Team Ineos didn't have enough superstars yet, the next one seems to be growing up. In addition to Tao Geoghegan Hart, Pavel Sivakov was particularly convincing at the Tour of the Alps. The Russian won the tour and was even able to count on the support of Chris Froome. With ninth place in the overall ranking of the Giro d'Italia there was no sensation, but we can still predict a rosy future for him. This is not least due to his overall victory at the Tour de Pologne. Along with Egan Bernal, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Richard Carapaz, Pavel Sivakov should shape the next few years for the British team.
Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates)
In addition to strong all-rounders and climbers, we have also included a sprinter in our list of newcomers for 2019. Jasper Philipsen has earned this nomination with numerous top 10 rankings. The Belgian also sprinted to a stage win at the Tour Down Under. His performance at Nokere Koerse was particularly impressive. He proved that he can be reckoned with in tough one-day races in the future. At the Tour de France he sprinted just short of the podium three times. Many are already saying that the Belgians are expecting a new Tom Boonen in Jasper Philipsen.