Cadel Evans saw the future at the Australian road cycling championships and it was wearing his BMC team jersey.
In his first race as a top-level professional, new team-mate Campbell Flakemore showed why he is regarded as a potential long-term successor to the Australian cycling legend.
While Evans and fellow star Richie Porte were marked out of the elite men's road race a week ago, Flakemore featured prominently in the key breakaway and finished fourth.
Evans, Flakemore and Rohan Dennis are the Australian contingent in the BMC team for this week's Tour Down Under.
They will only be teammates until February 1, when Evans ends his storied cycling career.
But in the little time they are spending together, Flakemore is making a strong impression on his leader.
Whatever disappointment Evans felt at finished 11th was offset by Flakemore's strong ride.
"I was really impressed with how focussed, alert and attentive he was in the race," Evans said.
"He did exactly what we wanted him to do, he didn't miss any moves.
"That really impressed me with someone who had been professional for a day.
"He got in all the right moves, as we asked - and that's easier said than done."
Flakemore was always going to secure a WorldTour contract after last year, when the 22-year-old won the under-23 world time trial championship.
Evans noted that Flakemore has only been cycling for four years and is yet to show all his capabilities.
And Evans said Flakemore clearly has good tactical nous.
"That's the probably the most interesting part," Evans said of Flakemore's physical potential.
"It's not just about the legs, but his eye for the race, his ability to read a race and stay focussed and concentrated, it's really impressive."
With Evans about to retire, Porte is the obvious next Australian who could post a big result at one of the Grand Tours - the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
Porte will lead Sky's team this year at the Giro.
But after Porte, there is no obvious Australian who appears capable of riding "GC" (general classification) in the big tours.
Flakemore and fellow under-23 rider Robert Power, who will ride for the composite UniSA team at the Tour Down Under, are the two most obvious candidates in five to 10 years' time.
"Looking at the results, they look like they have the physical attributes," Evans said of the young pair.
"Of course, it's what their own motivations are, what their goals are in their careers.
"But between those two, we have two interesting riders to watch in a few years to come."
Share
