Tobias Foss won the Tour de l'Avenir on Sunday, becoming the first Norwegian to win the biggest event of the hope calendar. This test, which brings together the best runners under 23 years, is often the opportunity for these young talents to show themselves on the international scene and hope to land a professional contract. But it is also a great revealer of champions, as evidenced by previous winners, Tadej Pogacar, Egan Bernal or David Gaudu, who all have a dazzling start to their careers in the World Tour. So will Tobias Foss be the future great champion of his generation ? One thing is certain, his performances did not go unnoticed. Because if some see the Tour of the Future as a gateway to the professional world, others are already approaching it with a contract in their pocket. The Jumbo Visma squad had their noses up when they offered the services of the young Norwegian a few weeks ago, but he is far from being the only rider in this Tour de l'Avenir to know his destination for next year.
Which teams for the riders of the Tour de l'Avenir ?
Indeed, this is also the case for several runners who have marked this edition 2019. French Clément Champoussin, 4e of the final general classification, will join the ranks of the Ag2r training, or his closest pursuer, German Georg Zimmermann, who will join the CCC team very soon. Jefferson Cepeda, winner of the last stage, will be a member of the Androni Gioccatolli Sidermec team next year, and Italian Samuele Battistella, that we very often found at the forefront of the decisive stages, will join NTT training (ex Dimension Data). Hungarian Barnabas Peak to join Mitchelton Scott squad, the Spanish Iñigo Elosegui has signed with Movistar, and Colombian Harold Tejada, 7th stage winner, will join the ranks of the Astana team. Colombians Juan Diego Alba and Einer Rubio were also spotted by Euzebio Unzue, and will also join the Movistar team. Kaden Groves, second on stage won by Stefan Busseger, will be a member of Team Mitchelton Scott. Thymen Arensman, when with him, signed with Sunweb, while Italian Alessandro Covi will join UAE Team Emirates.
The revelations of the edition 2019
If a good number of riders present at the start have already signed a professional contract, this is not the case for all. We can cite in particular the Belgian Ilan Van Wilder, who finished 3rd in the event for his first year in the U21, and who surprised more than one. Giovanni Aleotti, second overall, He also has no contract for next year. We also think of Thomas Pidcock and Ethan Hayter, who have not yet signed a contract, but whose performances are already attracting envy. We can also quote Alfred Wright, 4th stage winner, and whose trial as an intern at CCC could well end with a signature. Simon Gugliemi, yellow jersey wearer, and Mathias Norsgaard, winner of the first stage, will still be in the amateur ranks next year, respectively within the Groupama Fdj continental and Riwal Readynez Ceramicspeed teams. The future of Ben Healy, member of the UCI world center and winner of the 5th stage, when is he still uncertain. The disappearance of the Wiggins Le Col team for which he will be racing this season forces him to find a new team, and the biggest teams could be interested in him right now. The winner of the 6th stage, Stefan Bisseger, is also free for next year, and may be of interest to some World Tour teams or below. Matteo Jorgenson, intern at Ag2r, also shone during this Tour of the Future, occupying for a time second place in the general classification behind Tobias Foss. One can wonder about the future of Alexander Evans, the Australian member of Seg Racing, whose victory at the Col de la Loze could interest more than one. Finally, Michel Ries may be the most obvious name to consider for next year, he who has twice finished second in this edition, and whose performance since last year would make it almost logical a possible signing. Attila Valter, winner of the 9th stage, He could also join the professional ranks very soon.
Alexander Evans, Michel ries
