Our team continues its commitment to the development of young talents, as Ivan Cortina, Adrien Costa and Hamish Schreurs get a trial period.
The final months of the season will bring a big opportunity to Adrien Costa (Axeon Hagens Berman) and Klein Constantia's Ivan Cortina and Hamish Schreurs, who will suit up in the blue and black kit of Etixx – Quick-Step, joining the team for several races, as trainees. For each and every one of them, riding alongside the likes of Monument winners Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra will represent an exciting step in their career, one which will give them the chance to taste the life of a pro.
Just 18 years old, Adrien Costa has been heralded for some time now as one of the most fascinating and prodigious talents to come from the US, backed by many impressive wins in the Junior ranks, such as Tour du Pays de Vaud and Tour de l'Abitibi. Twice runner-up at the World Championships in the time trial race, Costa shined this season in Tour de Bretagne – becoming the first American to take the GC honours, as well as the youngest winner in the history of the race – and showcased himself not only in time trials, but also in the mountains, which led to top 10 placings in two other prestigious races, Le Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux and Rhône-Alpes Isère Tour.
Hailing from New Zealand, Hamish Schreurs (22 years) has had a strong start to the season, coming on the podium of both elite races at the National Championships and taking the U23 title for the second consecutive year, these results being an indication of the good form with which he returned to Europe, where he won the Carpathian Couriers Race after an incredible display of power. Schreurs was victorious in the prologue, before taking the penultimate stage from a small group, thus making sure he will go home with the overall victory and the points classification in the bag. Another impressive display followed just a few weeks later, when the Kiwi finished third in Paris-Roubaix, after being part of the long-day break.
In the same race, another Klein Constantia rider came in the top 10: Ivan Cortina, who was the fastest from the big chasing group which rolled home more than a minute behind the winner. The only rider to get in the top 10 of both Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix in 2016, Cortina proved a remarkable consistency, as shown by his 16 top-10 placings this season, which include a stage win at Course Cycliste de Solidarnosc et des Champions Olympiques and four podiums. While not a sprinter, the 20-year-old Spaniard has a fast turn of speed which can make the difference especially when the terrain is more challenging and selective, giving him the upper hand on his opponents.
Hamish Schreurs' first race will be RideLondon Classic (July 31), while his Klein Constantia teammate Ivan Cortina will join the team for Dwars door het Hageland (August 5). Adrien Costa is expected to make his debut for Etixx – Quick-Step later, in September.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
