Visconti wins last year's Coppa Sabbatini, his second straight victory at the Italian fall semi-classic. Frank Schleck of CSC takes second.
Giovanni Visconti has steadily improved year over year, especially in 2007 as he rode under the close tutelage of Quick Step boss Patrick Lefevre and "il grillo," Paolo Bettini. "The Cricket," as Bettini is nicknamed, has long spoke highly of Visconti, touting him as his likely successor. And as Bettini zeroes in on a possible 3rd straight World Championship (never before accomplished, not even by Merckx) and 2nd straight Olympic road racing gold medal, the early and middle portions of the cycling season will belong to Visconti.
Sure, Tom Boonen is still around, but he'll not contend in the hilly Wallonnian classics like the Fleche Wallonne, Amstel Gold and Liege-Bastogne-Liege races. Assuming that he arrives to those races injury free, Visconti should be right in the thick of the action leading up to the grand tours, where he'll ride in support of both Bettini and Boonen, probably for the last time.
The "Cobra" attacked with teammate Leonardo Piepoli (in green) to win stage 15 of the 2007 Giro'dItalia to Tre Cime Di Laveredo. A beautiful win, and at such a young age!
Riccardo Ricco could well be placed in the "Grand Tour Hope" or "Classics Specialist" catagories instead of this one, the short stage racer. A small yet explosive climber in the mold of Alberto Contador, Ricco has impressed many with his ability to stay with the world's best on the steepest climbs of cycling. His exploits in the Giro in 2007 earned have him an early favorite moniker for 2008, after the departure of Gilberto Simoni to the Italian continental team Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli.
It seems the only thing that could hold Ricco back in the longer tours is his team, which is not well suited to defend a GC leader on the flats or in the team trial discipline. However, for the shorter stage races like Tirreno-Adriatico or even the Tour of California, Ricco could impress. Similiar to Contador last year in Paris-Nice, Ricco could aim to put an early season stage race under his belt ahead of his showdown with Simoni, Salvodelli, Di Luca and Schleck in this years Giro. No matter what though, Ricco should be very fun to watch in 08 as he is constantly on the attack.
As a youngster riding for Saunier Duvall, 2006.
Classics Contender: Mark Cavendish, 22, Team High Road
Winning ahead of McEwin and Boonen lead out man Steegmans in the 2007 Grote Scheldeprijs.
Mark Cavendish, at only 22, has perhaps the most over all upside in this prestigious line up of future stars. With 11 wins last year, including one in the prestigious Volta a Catalunya, Cavendish announced himself as a new force on the sprinting scene. Riding for the newly formed Team High Road (formerly T-Mobile) in 2008, Cavendish should have plenty of chances at glory. First up will in all liklihood be "La Primivera," Milan-San Remo, where he will face veterans Petacchi, McEwin and Friere.
But it is the Belgian classics where Cavendish should perform best in the early season. Het Volk could be added to his palmares in 2008, as could Ghent-Wevelgem. Team High Road will enter the Tour de France with only Michael Rogers as it's real GC hope, so Mark should get a few shots at a bunch sprint stage victories there as well. 11 wins from 2007 should turn into around 20 in 2008.
Cavendish is more well known for his exploits on the track than on the road. But that could well change in 08.
Grand Tour Hope: Andy Schleck, 22, CSC
Riding in the "Maglia Blanca" as best young rider in the 2007 Giro. He would go on to finish 2nd overall behind Danilo Di Luca.
Andy Schleck comes from a cycling family in the most classic sense of the word. Not only was his father a pro racer, but so was his grandfather! Also, he rides with his brother, Frank, at CSC. Andy announced his arrival during the Giro d'Italia last year when he battled both Eddy Mazzolini (now facing a doping ban) and Danilo Di Luca (currently serving three month doping related suspension) for the Giro's overall title. In the end, he finished an amazing second and was the revelation of the Tour.
This year CSC boss Bjarne Riis will start both Andy and his brother Frank (27 yrs old) as probable co-captains in this year's Grande Boucle, the Tour de France. The two-pronged attack of the Schlecks should give the rest of the peloton fits as the brothers play off each other's talents. While Andy will be contesting his first ever Tour de France, a top placing seems a very realistic objective for him as long as he arrives on top form. Whether this year or next though, the youngest Schleck will soon be considered among the world's truly elite.
Andy time trialing in the Tour of Romandie 2007 stage race, an event won by Tyler Hamilton before his suspension for homologous blood doping. Andy's skill against the clock will serve him well over the years in the Grand Tours.
Time Trialist: Thomas Dekker, 23, Rabobank
Dekker has long been known as an excellent time trialist, as he won his national championship in 2004 and 2005. Bigger time trial successes can't be far off
Thomas Dekker, like many of the rider's in this post, burst onto the scene in 2007. The lanky Dutchman showed off his skills in some huge races, winning the overall at the Tour of Romandy as well as the time trial there, and took the win in stage six of the Tour de Swiss, arguably one of the biggest races in cycling, behind the Grand Tours and the huge one day classic monuments.
This year, Dekker will be the unquestioned second in command on the Rabobank team as Michael Boogerd has retired and Michael Rasmussen is gone from being suspected of doping during last year's Tour de France. While Dekker will no doubt ride in support of teammate Dennis Menchov in this year's Tour, he'll also be given a free hand if Menchov falters. With his amazing time trialing skills, Dekker needs only to hone his technique in the steep mountains to go top ten in a Grand Tour in 2008.
Enjoying the podium overall at the 2007 Tour de Romandy with Italian Paolo Salvodelli (left, three time Giro d'Italia winner) and Andre Kashechkin (right, since susended for blood doping)
So there are your young riders to watch in 2008. Look out over the next few days for a "Last Chance Saloon" update on riders clutching at one last chance for glory before retirement. Until then, Allez!
Briggs Heaney
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