Two of cycling's biggest young stars duel at Strade Bianche

Ask almost any cycling fan who the biggest young talent is in the sport today and you're likely to hear the name Peter Sagan. The young Slovak and his charasmatic style has entertained and thrilled us all over the last couple of years and big things are expected of him in 2013. But for all his talent there may be someone else of the same age who could go even further. He's Polish national champion, Michal Kwiatkowski.

Each year it seems a young cyclist bursts onto the scene winning several years, showing a huge talent for success and as a result is designated the title of being the next Eddy Merckx. The pressure is put on and despite many going on to forge brilliant careers, nobody has lived up to such a moniker.

In 2013 at the age of just 23, Sagan won his second green jersey at the Tour de France to go with 21 victories on the year including wins at Gent–Wevelgem and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal. His second place results at Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders only hinted at his bright future. Some even felt that on top of winning the big classics, he could one day win a Grand Tour. The pressure was heaped on. Now, that isn't to say it has gotten to Sagan ... quite the opposite for the he has done nothing but perform well in the majority of races he has been expect to shine in. It's just that now it might be Kwiatkowski's turn to come under that microscope of expectation. And on the weekend we got to see them both go head to head at the Strade Bianche.



A great situation for the fans, but it wasn't the more widely known talent of Sagan who prevalied, but rather the Pole who burst clear of Sagan on the final climb after being the only one who could follow the Slovak's attack with 21km to go. Looking at times far more comfortable than Sagan, he rode easily away when he made that move and when Sagan realised he couldn't follow, he sat up to finish 19 seconds behind.

Sagan clearly wasn't on his usual form, and admitted as much himself afterwards, and this is still early spring and it was only the Strade Biache, with all due respect, but on the other hand, this wasn't the first signs of talent we have seen from the 23 year old Kwiatkowski either. Last year he broke through at none other than the Tour de France itself finishing 10th overall while getting in on the mix for the bunch sprints, hanging tough in the mountains, and finishing high up in the time-trials. If that didn't completely sell his talent to those looking for potential winners in 2014 then this years superb start with an overall win at the Volta ao Algarve, as well as two stage wins (including an individual time-trial), and victory at Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana, before this result over Sagan at the weekend can only have helped.

Now he's being talked up as the favorite to win next weeks Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in which a number of Grand Tour favorites will be on hand. And I'm even going to go out on a limb and tip him for one of the Monument classics this year.

One thing that will see the hype-o-metre going into overdrive in Kwiatkowski's case is that 10th place finish in last years Tour (second in the young rider competition) and his featuring near the front in the mountains. Unlike Sagan, Kwiatkowski is already built for success in Grand Tours and how long before another couple of big results leads to some speculating when and not if he will one day win a Giro, Tour or Vuelta?

The big wonder is whether he can win classics and also win a Grand Tour or whether he will face the cross-roads like so many before him to decide what kind of specialist he will become.

It's not fun tempering expectations, and then again, with this kind of a start to a season to go with last years Tour, why should we. Let's not go throwing out the 'Next Eddy Merckx' title though. Let's enjoy watching a young talent like Kawiatkowski's -- and Sagan's for that matter, which in itself is still very much on for big wins in 2014 -- and see where they takes us.

Cycling is in good hands if these two are the ones setting the standard of what's to come. Strade Bianche was, perhaps, a glimpse into the future.