Winning Paris-Nice has seemingly done nothing to diminish Carlos Betancur’s (Ag2r-La Mondiale) ambitions for the remainder of the season. The Colombian climbing specialist has reportedly set his sights on next month’s Ardennes Classics and then intends to follow up success there by landing the [best young rider] white jersey in his debut Tour de France in July.

Last season, Betancur claimed the best young rider classification when he finished 5th overall at the Giro d’Italia, and the 24-year-old will aim to replicate that feat when he lines up at the Tour.

“This is a real morale boost ahead of the classics,” Betancur said according to Cyclingnews.com. “The rest of my programme for the season culminates with the Tour de France, where I have real ambitions.

Betancur walked away with the honours in Paris-Nice in commanding fashion, winning back-to-back stages at Rive-de-Gier and on the uphill finish at Fayence, and then defending his yellow jersey confidently over the weekend.

The focus of Betancur’s spring will be the Ardennes Classics, where he performed imposingly last season, claiming 3rd at Flèche Wallonne after attacking early on the Mur de Huy, and then taking 4th at Liège-Bastogne-Liège the following Sunday.

“For me, he has the same qualities as a rider like Joaquím Rodriguez, very strong in a very hard race, whether it’s a classic or a Grand Tour,” Ag2r manager Vincent Lavenu said, according to L’Èquipe. “He has everything to become world number one.”