1990s

he World Championships in Ponferrada in 2014 is perhaps the best example of why the class of 1990 were put on such a pedestal, and not just because a young Micha? Kwiatkowski won the rainbow jersey. The talent born in that year who finished 10th in the road race and was long considered France’s next great sprinter thanks to the three Giro and two Vuelta stage wins he took that very same year, aged 24. Puncheur born May 1990 who finished in 13th on his debut elite Worlds. , 17 seconds back on Kwiatkowski in 34th, who a year later, aged 25, became the youngest Vuelta winner since 1991. Further down the results sheet, , a Colombian climber in his first year in the WorldTour, who a week later would win the Tour of Beijing. While in the time trial, 17 seconds behind bronze medallist Tom Dumoulin, was another 1990 child, in fifth.