As some of you may or may not know from watching my first Instagram Live, I have adopted the NFL as my offseason sport from cycling, and the inspiration for this site actually came during the 2017 NFL draft, an event that allows teams to pick the best players from college. Whilst the U23 level is sort of like college football in the USA, the big difference is that any rider can sign anywhere, and aren’t held to a draft position and have a say as to where they go pro.
Whilst some people have banded about the idea of a draft for cycling, using UCI ranking to determine who drafts where, I personally am not too big a fan of this, as there are a number of different types of rider, and someone drafting last may still get the best sprinter in the draft class if all other teams take other riders, therefore it doesn’t necessarily make those teams struggling for UCI points too much better.
All the same, to honour the upcoming draft, I’ve posted my draft board, containing 32 pro ready prospects for the 2021 season. Will all these guys go pro? Probably, but for sure some guys will not be a pro already by 2021, and may need to wait until 2022. Is this a stupid feature? Probably, but hey, it’s not like I have any racing to report on!!
So who is not eligible: any rider who is an U23 but has raced on the Pro Conti level for two years or more. Any rider who has signed a Pro Conti deal that lasts after they age out (Uno-X’s Morten Hulgaard and Frederik Rodenberg are examples). Any rider who has signed a pro deal that starts either later this season or on January 1st 2021 (examples include Stefan Bissegger, Andreas Leknessund, Simon Carr, Florian Vermeersch, Viktor Verschaeve, Kevin Colleoni etc etc). Marco Brenner could also be a pro in 2021, but as he is currently a junior, I am not counting him on this list either.
So, without further delay, from one to thirty two, let’s have the commissioner take to the podium and announce the 2020 WorldTour Draft selections pick by pick:
1. Tom Pidcock (Trinity Racing) *signed with INEOS Grenadiers
It’s not too often an U23 reaches star status, but thanks to Tom Pidcock’s success on both the road and cross bikes since before he was a junior, he has achieved that status. A former junior World ITT champ, Pidcock’s U23 career could arguably have been stopped after 2018 and a pro contract signed. In fact, was he a little younger, he could probably jumped right from juniors to the pro ranks.
But Pidcock’s commitment to cross ensured he wanted the chance to compete in both disciplines, and no pro deal would be signed. In 2018, he was 17th overall in the Tour Britain before taking out the UCI U23 World CX title in February 2019. A short break was followed by a great ride in the Classics, where he unfortunately crashed in Flanders, won a stage in the Triptyque and was 3rd overall, before capping it all off with a brilliant solo win in Paris-Roubaix, becoming the first rider to win the race at both junior and U23 level.
So Pidcock is fast and can win sprints, and has Classics pedigree too. That alone could be enough for top spot on this draft board. But in August, he did something truly terrifying. He won atop La Planche des Belles Filles and took the overall title at Tour Alsace. Sadly, he crashed out of l’Avenir before we got to the real mountains, so we will never know how he would have fared against the elite of the elite U23 climbers. Still, the fact he can win atop very tough mountains, plus excel in the Classics, makes Pidcock a truly unique prospect. I’d imagine Team INEOS are very keen, but it remains to be seen how flexible they would be with Tom’s CX desires. Deceuninck-QuickStep would also be an option, but they too limited Zdenek Stybar’s CX calendar for many years. Pidcock can probably go pro wherever he wants, all that remains to be seen is who can support his cycling versatility best. That is who, in my opinion, is likely to win the race for his signature.
2. Giovanni Aleotti (CT Friuli) *signed with BORA-hansgrohe
Aleotti is a fantastic hilly Classics rider, but he shocked many in the U23 world when he took 2nd overall at l’Avenir last season. Admittedly, his astute riding and Classics pedigree ensured he entered the mountains with a lead on some other GC riders, but not all of them. He didn’t hang on in the mountains either, he excelled. This was a little surprising, as he was quite anonymous in both editions of the U23 Giro he has ridden. Even if he doesn’t develop into a Grand Tour contender, he has all the tools to become a good rider in the hilly classics. He was never off the podium in the early season U23 races in 2019, and has also shown he can race against the pros in Appenino and Laigueglia. CCC were rumoured to have secured his services, but it remains to be seen what happens since they announced big cuts to the team as a result of the lack of racing with corona virus.
3. David Dekker (SEG Racing Academy) *signed with Jumbo-Visma
Not only did I not have David Dekker this high on the board when I first began creating it, I didn’t have him on the board at all initially. His first three seasons at the U23 level were pretty good, as he showed himself as a sprinter and was also just outside the top ten in a few professional one-day races. But the U23 year old Dutch U23 RR champ got his big move to SEG Racing Academy for the 2020 season and started like a house on fire. He won Ster Van Zwolle and the Dorpenomloop Rucphen, and in between produced a stunning ride to take 3rd in Le Samyn. Given his position as a final year U23 and that SEG have a fantastic reputation for getting guys to the World Tour, it’s hard to see David not being a pro in 2021. Guys who can win sprints are insanely valuable, and Jumbo-Visma have been looking for a second sprinter for a while now. Given David’s father Erik rode for the team under the Rabobank name for 11 seasons, that seems the best fit, but other teams will have taken notice.
4. Jens Reynders (Hagens Berman Axeon) *signed with Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise (PCT)
Like Dekker, Reynders is a rider who can both sprint and ride the Classics. He turned down an offer to go pro at the Pro Conti level with Wallonie-Bruxelles, instead joining Axel Merckx’s U23 team with a view to finding a WorldTour spot for 2021. 3rd in last year’s Gent-Wevelgem and Roubaix proves how good he is. Another final year U23, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t a pro next year. Again, squads like EF, Decueninck-QuickStep and Trek-Segafredo (amongst others) should all be looking.
5. Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ Conti) *signed with Groupama-FDJ
Yep, another Classics/Sprint rider. Stewart hasn’t managed the big win yet, but is tailor made for the pro races and will fit in very well. A hard worker, Stewart had five podiums last season, and was given some pro race experience by Groupama-FDJ’s WorldTour team when they picked him to race the Volta ao Algarve, which is a good sign. French teams can be a little late to the party when it comes to snapping up young talents from U23 level, so all that remains to be seen is if Groupama-FDJ take him now, in 2022 or fall asleep at the wheel and let someone else secure his services. He isn’t the only rider I think this could happen with either, but read on…
6. Arne Marit (Lotto-Soudal U23) *signed with Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise (PCT)
I’m quite confident Arne Marit will be on the Lotto-Soudal WorldTour team next year, unless the virus impacts who they sign, but the Belgian is fully deserving of getting a pro deal. A versatile rider, Arne can sprint, do short time trials and is a good one-day racer, although he is more of a sprinter than a few of the guys listed above. Lotto-Soudal take great pride in their U23 team and are not afraid of internal promotion, so I’d expect the 2019 GP Criquelion winner at your local WorldTour race very soon.
7. Sylvain Moniquet (Groupama-FDJ Conti) *signed with Lotto-Soudal
Like former teammate Reynders, Moniquet turned down a Pro Conti deal at Wallonie-Bruxelles last season in favour of going elsewhere on the U23 circuit to try and find a WorldTour contract. Heading into this year, his last as an U23, Moniquet projected as one of the best climbers at this level. He offers extra value to pro teams, as he has shown he can get good results while working for others, a situation he found himself in quite a bit last year thanks to sharing a national team with Ilan Van Wilder and Mauri Vansevenant. But he did his job well, and a rider who climbs like he can is deserving of a pro deal. Again, I’d be looking at Groupama-FDJ, Lotto-Soudal, Deceuninck-QuckStep and Trek-Segafredo as the most likely destinations, but we shall see
8. Jordi Meeus (SEG Racing Academy) *signed with BORA-hansgrohe
Whilst Jordi Meeus can sprint, his best terrain is in the Classics. He even won Gooikse Pijl way back in 2018, beating established pro Amund Grondahl Jansen in the process. Meeus’ 2019 season was not as good and he found standout results hard to come by. But he still showed on a few occasions that after a hard race, not many are faster than he is. He was 4th in Ster Van Zwolle, 17th in Le Samyn and 10th in the Dorpenomloop Rucphen to start his final year at this level, before the virus hit the race calendar. I certainly believe he is worth a shot for WorldTour teams. Suitors? Teams needing Classics riders.
9. Jesus David Pena (Colombia Tierra de Atletas – GW Bicicletas)
One of the youngest names on this board, Pena was a brilliant 7th in his first year as an U23 at the Giro, whilst working for Andres Ardile and Juan Diego Alba. He started 2020 with 25th overall at the Tour of Colombia too. A pure climber, he destroyed the U23 Giro field on a few climbs in last year’s race, and was my favourite for the title in 2020. Maybe he goes pro in 2021, maybe not. But I certainly think going pro and racing more in Europe would do him no harm. Look at UAE-Team Emirates, Astana and Movistar to be top of the queue for the 19 year old.
10. Michele Gazzoli (Team Colpack) *remains with Colpack
Gazzoli’s Spanish adventure at Kometa had some highs and some lows, but their lack of an U23 schedule did affect the Italian sprinters growth. Instead of beating U23s, he continually had to face the professionals, and whilst his rack of top tens are impressive, its wins a sprinter truly needs to build confidence. His heart was set on a move back to Italy, and once his move to the Monti-Deceuninck QuickStep team fell apart (along with the team), Colpack stepped in. Gazzoli may need to wait longer for his WorldTour shot, but he has shown glimpses of his speed and a team will always take risks to get a sprinter. Slower riders than he have found WorldTour contracts, so we shall see what awaits the third-year U23.
11. Lars van den Berg (Groupama-FDJ Conti) *signed with Groupama-FDJ
Like his teammate Stewart, Lars was given the chance to race for the Groupama-FDJ WorldTour team, this time at Tour des Alpes. He worked hard for the team, but managed third place on the final stage atop Mont Faron. In his three years so far at this level (not counting the lost year of 2020), he has been 3rd at the Olympias Tour, 6th in Carpathian, 10th in l’Avenir, GP Priessnitz Spa, Rhone Alpes Isere and Kreiz Breizh, plus 11th in Fleche du Sud. A true model of consistency, I’d like to see him get a shot at the WorldTour, or at least a Pro Conti contract.
12. Natnael Tesfatsion (Team NTT Conti) *signed with Androni Giocattoli (PCT)
I had Tesfatstion on this list, but he vaulted up the list with his performances in Africa this season. After winning a stage and taking 2nd overall in La Tropicale, he won a stage and the GC at the Tour of Rwanda. He has a fast finish, can get over a lot of short and steep climbs, and showed in 2019 that he can adjust to European racing, with a few top tens in his first season racing there. Team NTT suit him best, but let’s wait and see if they let another African talent sign elsewhere. Seeing the number of Africans the NIPPO Delko One Provence team have signed, that seems a logical plan B, but I think he can get a shot on a WorldTour team.
13. Ziga Jerman (Groupama-FDJ Conti) *signed with Androni Giocattoli (PCT)
The 2018 Gent-Wevelgem winner is yet another rider who can sprint and do the Classics. 7 top 10s (including, l’Etoile d’Or, Flanders and Roubaix) and two podiums in 2019 showed once more how classy a bike rider Jerman is. The Slovenian is in his final year as an U23 at Groupama-FDJ Conti, so will be looking to head for the pros. Bahrain-McLaren’s Slovenian connection could be a very good destination for him, as could UAE-Team Emirates.
14. Johan Price-Pejtersen (Team ColoQuick) *signed with Uno-X (PCT)
The current European U23 ITT champion is a monster time triallist and also a very good domestique. Things have yet to go right for JPP in the Worlds U23 ITT, especially last year when he quite famously crashed into the massive puddle. But a rider capable of beating Mikkel Bjerg, Steffan Bissegger, Iver Knotten and Andreas Leknessund in a big TT is a WorldTour level talent. I’d like to see him on a team like EF, Deceuninck-QuickStep or any of the other elite time trial teams.
15. Ward Vanhoof (Lotto-Soudal U23) *signed with Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise (PCT)
Like Marit, Vanhoof is on track to make the jump from Lotto-Soudal’s U23 team to the pro team, but that I am not so sure he will be a pro in 2021, but rather 2022. Either way, Vanhoof is a Classics star in the making. He won Het Nieuwsblad U23, was 4th in Roubaix, 6th in Paris-Tours and had one more one-day top five and top ten last year. Given how little a prodigious Classics talent comes around, I’d not be surprised if someone offered Ward a pro deal for 2021, but he may also wait until 2022.
16. Kevin Vermaerke (Hagens Berman Axeon) *signed with Team Sunweb
The second entry from the year 2000 and one of the riders I am least sure is a pro in 2021 (he will be by 2022 though, no question about it). Hagens Berman Axeon’s Kevin Vermaerke is a brilliant rider who excels in the hilly Classics terrain. Winner of Liege U23 in his first season as an U23, Vermaerke has continually produced on short, steep climbs, with 4th in the Lillehammer GP and 21st overall in Tour de Yorkshire as further evidence. He also showed he can get over the bigger climbs too, with 23rd overall in Utah and a top twenty on the Powder Mt summit finish, topping out at a massive 2705m above sea level. Like I said, he’s not someone I’m hugely confident will be a pro in 2021, but he is without question worthy of his spot on this list. As for when he does go pro, EF will certainly be keen on him, but he is likely to have a few suitors.
17. Daan Hoole (SEG Racing Academy)
One of the elite TT riders available on the market, Hoole is the current Dutch U23 TT champ and was 6th and 10th in the Worlds. He’s also a pretty handy one-day racer, with 11th in Paris-Roubaix and 5th in the Lillehammer GP more evidence of this. Hoole has raced all three years of his U23 career with SEG, and may opt to ride a fourth season with the team in 2021. But given his abilities, he’d be a great rider to have on any pro team. Imagine his almost 2m tall frame protecting your pint-sized GC rider in the crosswinds. A valuable asset who will be a pro at some point.
18. Sean Quinn (Hagens Berman Axeon) *remaining with Hagens Berman Axeon
Just two spots behind fellow 2000 rider and close friend Vermaerke is Sean Quinn. More of a stage racer than Vermaerke is, Quinn raced well in Yorkshire, Circuit des Ardennes and the Triptyque last season, but none of those races took place in his favoured terrain: the mountains. And when he got there, boy did he impress. He only recorded one stage top ten at the U23 Giro, but ten days of consistent racing saw Quinn end the race in 6th overall. Not bad at all for a first year. Again, he probably does stay with Hagens Berman Aeon for a third year, but he too could be swayed by pro teams.
19. Adrian Bustamante (UAE-Team Colombia)
The current Colombian U23 TT champion has had a pretty torrid time racing in Europe so far, but in Colombia he is very highly regarded, both as a TT rider and a climber. Bustamante was 2nd overall in last season’s U23 Tour of Colombia, ahead of pros like Andres Ardila (UAE-Team Emirates), Alexander Cepeda (Androni) and Juan Diego Alba (Movistar). He’s very similar to Astana’s Harold Tejada, who had to wait until his final year as an U23 to really flourish, and would win a l’Avenir stage before moving to the pros. I think, had racing went ahead, Bustamante could have been equally as good. Let’s see if he gets his pro deal.
20. Antonio Puppio (Kometa-Xstra)
Antonio Puppio is quite an interesting rider, as he has TT pedigree but most of his top results have come in road races. 10th in last season’s European U23 TT, he also has top tens in stages at the Tour de Hongarie and Vuelta a Aragon, pro races, plus 3rd in the Valle d’Aosta prologue and 10th in the Etoile d’Or Nations Cup race at U23 level. A former Cofidis stagiaire, Trek-Segafredo could be keen to snap up another strong helper from the Kometa program.
21. Clement Davy (Groupama-FDJ Conti) *signed with Groupama-FDJ
Groupama-FDJ have shown a tendency to sign mostly French speakers from their U23 team so far, so Clement Davy fits this description perfectly. A hard worker, Davy has also shown an ability to ride well in one-day races and the TTs. There may be better riders than he further down the list, but since he is a final year Frenchman on an U23 French team, his opportunity to go to the WorldTour is stronger than a few of the riders listed below. Not that he wouldn’t deserve his spot, as he’d be a great rider to support both Thibaut Pinot and Arnaud Demare, as well as taking chances himself.
22. Maikel Zijlaard (SEG Racing Academy)
Like Jordi Meeus, new SEG rider Maikel Zijlaard is a Classics rider who can sprint, rather than a sprinter who does well in Classics. Despite the fact he has done well in lots of different races, he carries a lot of bad luck in his beloved Classics, with 21st in Roubaix 2018 the best he has managed so far. The former Hagens Berman Axeon rider can get over short climbs and is a pretty good TT rider (he was 12th overall in the Triptyque last season). He’s a very good bike rider.
23. James Fouche (Hagens Berman Axeon)
Fouche is one of my favourite U23s. The guy loves to attack, and won a staggering three straight KOM jerseys in the 2019 season. He doesn’t just attack for show though, and has results like 5th overall in A Travers Haut France, 7th in the Triptyque, 12th in the Tour de Bretagne and 6th in Wevelgem to show his class. A former stagiaire with Mitchelton-Scott, James moved from the now-defunct Wiggins team to Hagens Berman Axeon for his final U23 season, and the former elite New Zealand RR champ should be on the Aussie squads radar for 2021.
24. Leon Heinschke (Sunweb Devo) *stays with Sunweb Devo
Heinschke has a contract until 2021 with Sunweb Devo, but they have been known to promote their riders early if they feel they are ready. The 2019 German U23 RR champ has begun to show himself well in the pro races, finishing just outside the top ten overall at the Tour de Slovaquie and the Rund um Koln. He started 2020 well too, with 7th in Trofej Porec. If there is no racing this year, he will stay on for his last U23 season with Sunweb Devo, but they may also move him up early. We will need to wait and see.
25. Jarno Mobach (Sunweb Devo) *No pro deal
Heinschke’s teammate Mobach looked on track for the Sunweb pro team after a great 2018 saw him take 5th overall in the Tour de Bretagne and 8th overall in the Triptyque. But 2019 was below par and he struggled for standout results, with 20th in Flanders and the Triptyque and 16th in Wevelgem the best he could manage. Now into his final U23 season, Jarno is seeking to make the jump to the pro team for 2021, and given how many U23s Sunweb like to promote, that move is certainly very possible.
26. Anthony Jullien (Chambery CF) *signed with AG2R-Citroen
It’s often been very hard to predict which riders AG2R will turn pro from their U23 team, and with Clement Champoussin already signed, there is not as many spots available either. Despite getting good pros from all their development riders, they opted not to sign Nico Prodhomme last offseason (as did every other pro team shockingly), despite the fact he had a very good season. I could see them turning Anthony Jullien pro but I could also see him going elsewhere. A very good one-day racer, Jullien also excelled as a stagiaire with AG2R last autumn. Is there a market for a one-day racer like Jullien in the WorldTour? Maybe. But his AG2R connection gets him on this list.
27. Yevgeniy Fedorov (Vino-Astana Motors) *signed with Astana-PremierTech
Like Jullien, there is a pro interest that gets Fedorov onto this list. Astana may not have a lot of money, if the reports are to be believed, but they have kept on the pulse with young Kazakh talents. Despite only being in his second season at this level, Fedorov has won a stage at the Tour de Langkawi (and was 2nd overall) and a stage at the Tour du Rwanda. He was also the U23 Asian ITT champ last year. He could stick around for a third season at this level in 2021, but Astana may also pull the trigger on Fedorov after this year.
28. Savva Novikov (CCC Devo) *signed with Equipo Kern Pharma (PCT)
Novikov was a late addition to the CCC Devo team, and he shot to the attention of the U23 world with a stage and GC win in the Tour of Iran, along with a stage and 2nd overall in the Tour of Romania last season. Like Attila Valter last season, Novikov has signed a two year deal with the CCC Devo squad, but the pro team showed with Valter they are willing to turn someone pro early if they are ready. Novikov, a third year U23, has not raced a single U23 race since 2018, and has not raced a UCI event since October, largely due to the virus, so he will probably be quite rusty right now. Novikov is a good climber, and certainly has WorldTour potential. As a Russian, Gazprom-Rusvelo at the Pro Conti level are also bound to be keeping tabs on Savva.
29. Niklas Markl (Sunweb Devo) *signed with Team Sunweb
Niklas Markl is a very fast rider, but his 2019 was crash-filled to say the least. After grabbing a stage of the Istrian Spring Trophy and the Youngster Coast Challenge early last season, Markl would only manage three more top fives last year. However, Markl was off to a good start this season once more in Croatia, with 3rd in Trofej Umag and 10th in Trofej Porec. Crucially, Sunweb U23 often resign their U23s to two year deals, unless they intend to turn them pro. Markl only signed a one year extension last year, so the team may have been thinking about stepping him up to the pros if he had a good 2020. The virus has shortened the season, but the WorldTour team’s progression plan may not yet be put to rest.
30. Henok Mulubrhan (Team NTT Conti)
After finishing 10th and 12th in the Tropicale and Tour du Rwanda last season, Henok earned himself a move to NTT Conti for the 2020 season. He improved in his next attempt at those two races, with 5th and 10th overall (and three stage podiums), even whilst working with teammate Tesfatsion. In fact, but for Natnael’s performances, more people may have been talking about Mulubrhan. Like Tesfatsion, the talent and results are there, we need to wait and see what NTT or Delko do about signing them.
31. Iver Knotten (Team Coop)
It has to be said that, so far, Knotten is one of the most specialist riders we have seen in recent seasons at this level. He lives for the TTs, and but for a mechanical during the Worlds in Yorkshire, he may have been on the podium there. After seeing him backstage at the race, I spoke with him about the incident and he was distraught, especially as he was flying at the time checks pre-mechanical. Away from the Worlds, he was 4th in the European Champs and only Andreas Leknessund could beat him in the elite Norwegian TT. Away from the TTs, he did show some promise by racing well on a hard stage in a stage race in Poland. Knotten is also known for working very hard for his team whenever he isn’t saving for a TT, so like JPP earlier in this list, WorldTour teams could certainly find value in signing a guy like Iver.
32. Jarrad Drizners (Hagens Berman Axeon)
In two previous seasons as an U23, Drizners raced a total of two UCI race days outside of national or continental championships. So when Hagens Berman Axeon picked up the Aussie for the 2020 season, it may have been a surprise. But he has raced superbly so far, with a win in the U23 National RR, before a superb 22nd overall representing the Uni-SA team at the Tour Down Under. He didn’t struggle in Europe either, with 11th in a savage edition of the Dorpenomloop, before his season was halted. Drizners is perhaps a raw talent who needs more European race days, but considering how much attention his Hagens Berman Axeon team gets from pro scouts, it’s hard to imagine pro teams not taking notice of what Drizners has done so far, especially with them getting to see it in person at the TDU. Again, maybe a long shot to be a pro in 2021, but that’s what the back end of the first round is for, selecting guys who are not as sure a thing as the guys going in the top ten, and my board is no different.
And, as promised, here are a few bonus riders I couldn’t put on my board for various reasons, but all three stand a good shot at being pros in 2021.
Bonus 1: Andrea Piccolo (Team Colpack) *signed with Astana-PremierTech
When Trek-Segafredo signed Antonio Tiberi, there were plenty of rumours out about that transfer before he won his world title and Trek announced it, there were several other rumours linking teammate Andrea Piccolo to Astana. Nothing happened, and as far as we know Piccolo will be with Colpack heading into 2021 too. But if there was any substance to that, especially with the lack of racing so far this year, Piccolo would be as well heading off to the pros if the Astana offer is real. Some say the deal is done, I’m yet to see Astana confirm, but we shall see what the rest of 2020 brings.
Bonus 2: Andreas Kron (Riwal) *signed with Lotto-Soudal
Technically a pro, Kron has been on Riwal for two seasons at Pro Conti level, but as a 1998, he is available for a move to the WorldTour this season. His 2019 was very good, as he won the Orlens GP RR and was 5th overall in the pro Tour of of Belgium. He also took 5th in the U23 Worlds RR, which he added to a string of top one day race performances (4th and 6th in Wevelgem, 4th in U23 Eschborn-Frankfurt). He started 2020 brilliantly too, with 9th in Trofeo Laigueglia and 8th on GC and the best young rider jersey at the Saudi Tour. I’d be shocked if he is still on a Pro Conti team in 2021.
Bonus 3: Sebastian Berwick (St George Continental Team) *signed with Israel Start-Up Nation
After his debut U23 season in Europe with Chambery CF was a disaster, Sebastian Berwick moved back home for 2019 and the Aussie began to refind himself. He developed well in Asia as a GC rider, but his 2020 start was beyond what anyone could have expected. After taking 2nd in the U23 National RR, he produced two podiums on the Sun Tour’s summit finishes, taking 2nd overall behind Sunweb’s Jai Hindley. We’ve seen plenty of young Aussies announce themselves at that race in the past few years, and almost all have secured pro rides at at least Pro Conti level here in Europe. Berwick is definitely worth a second chance here in Europe. Perhaps Mitchelton-Scott would be keen, since the Aussie U23 program has struggled for funds in recent seasons and his European U23 racing opportunities are looking quite limited until at least the 2021 season.
Honorable Mentions: Markus Wildauer, Samuele Zoccarato
Underclassmen to watch: Karel Vacek (signed with Qhubeka-ASSOS), Alexandre Balmer (stays with Groupama-FDJ Conti), Marco Frigo (stays with SEG Racing Academy), Olav Kooij (signed with Jumbo-Visma)
U23 Cycling Zone 