20-year-old Colombian climber Egan Bernal is set to step up to WorldTour level in 2018, with Team Sky, Movistar and Bahrain Merida in competition to pay Androni Giocattoli a special 'development fee' so they can have him on their roster and perhaps help him develop into the next Nairo Quintana or Sergio Henao.
Bernal justified why he is so highly sought on the final stage of the Tour of Alps on Friday, going on the attack over the summit of Monte Bondone and so taking the best young rider's jersey from Britain's Hugh Carthy. He wisely opted against an all-out solo attack to try to win the stage, preferring to ride a smart race with teammate Rodolfo Torres.
Torres attacked on the final Novaline climb near Trento and was only pulled back by a serious chase by the other riders in the select front group. Bernal finished seventh in the sprint finish and was ninth overall, 1:02 down on winner Geraint Thomas (Team Sky). Bernal and Torres' efforts gave Androni Giocattoli second place in the team standings behind just BMC, and gave the Italian team some precious points in the season-long Coppa Italia series that will award a wildcard place for the 2018 Giro d'Italia.
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Bernal has the calm and quiet confidence of Quintana.
"I'm very happy with my ride today and with taking the best young rider's jersey," he told Cyclingnews after the podium ceremony.
"I didn't think I'd be able to stay with the best climbers over the Bondone because I hadn't been as strong as them on the other climbs. But today I was even able to attack over the top of the climb. When I got a gap I was unsure what to do; I could have taken some risks on the descent and then tried to stay away on the flat roads in the valley. But I knew it would have been difficult to stay away. So I decided to descend fast but also wait for the others.
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