Flèche Wallonne top 10 reflects a new trend in cycling, says Van Avermaet: "That has me worried"

With the above-mentioned riders, along with Ben Healy (24), Santiago Buitrago (25), Remco Evenepoel (25), and Mauro Schmid (25), the average age of the top 10 in the Flèche Wallonne was just 22.4 years old. That’s a notably young average, something Van Avermaet also noticed. "It’s a general trend that young riders are breaking through faster than before," the former cyclist explained in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws. "Riders are ready to win races and get good results much earlier now."

Still, Van Avermaet believes a young top 10 in the Flèche Wallonne is easy to explain. "It’s a race that’s 'only' 200 kilometers long. That makes it just a bit easier for a young rider to finish in the top 10 than in, say, the Tour of Flanders or Paris–Roubaix, which are both over 250 kilometers. On top of that, the Mur de Huy is a very specific type of finish, perfect for explosive riders. And those young guys just have that in them — much more than the toughness needed for a Monument."

Still, Van Avermaet notes a shift from the past, when riders typically hit their peak around 30. "Now that peak is around 26 or 27. Everything has moved up a bit." He also drew this conclusion from his own experience. "Last year I went on a training camp with some juniors. You can just tell how professional those guys already are. When I was racing as a junior, I basically didn’t know anything yet. That professionalism kicks in much earlier now, which means they’re making bigger strides sooner — and so they’re ready to get results in the pros at a much younger age."

While this development might seem relatively harmless, Van Avermaet also sees a real danger. "I’m afraid young riders won’t be given much time anymore to prove themselves." This is mostly due to today’s top stars. "There’s more pressure now, and that’s to a large extent related to guys like Evenepoel and Pogacar, who have put down phenomenal performances at such young ages. They’ve become the standard — and that’s what worries me. You can’t compare everyone to them."

Because of this, the former pro believes it’s crucial that riders who fall just short of the Pogacar–Evenepoel level are given enough time to develop. "So that maybe one day they can compete with the top guys. Look at Skjelmose — he beat Evenepoel and Pogacar in the Amstel Gold Race. That’s what makes it beautiful: that guys like that, if they work hard and do the right things, can win races too."