After picking him as one of our 12 young riders to watch out for in 2015, CyclingQuotes spoke with Silvan Dillier of BMC Racing Team to discuss his great neo-pro year in 2014, where he became a World Champion, and his hopes for 2015.

In 2013, BMC signed Swiss rider Silvan Dillier from their BMC Development team as a stagiaire. He instantly repaid the faith put in him by winning stage two of the Tour of Alberta, becoming a rare stagiare to win a pro race, highlighting his big talent.

In 2014, he continued his development, winning the Worlds Team Time Trial and showing himself in many big races against the best with strong rides.

“2014 was my first season as a professional with BMC Racing Team and there were a lot of new experiences, like my debut in the cobblestone classics, which was a great new experience for me. I had a good season throughout the whole year and it ended well with the World title in the Team Time Trial.”

While Dillier didn’t win an individual race in 2014, he was second in his home race, GP Canton d’Argovie, behind Simon Geschke. I asked him if he was pleased to achieve such a good result or was sad to be so close to winning in front of the Swiss fans.

“This was a big race for me and I was in good shape. I knew I could do a good result there and I was so close. But honestly, I was more happy than disappointed.”

Dillier couldn’t have dreamt a more special end to his season, when at just 24 years of age and a neo-pro, he fulfilled a dream held by most riders when he became a world champion in Ponferrada in September.

“This was a crazy story. It was actually my first TTT for a long time and the fact that we were able to get the world title, this was so big.”

As he mentioned earlier, he rode his first cobblestone campaign in 2014. He looks to have the qualities of a certain Swiss rider named Fabian Cancellara, and I asked him if he could see himself challenging for those races in the future.

“Yeah, I think the cobblestone classics suit my characteristics and I will focus on these races over the next few seasons.”

He can time trial, sprint, climb well over medium hills and is good on the cobbles. He has a wide variety of skills and I asked him what type of rider he thought he was.

“I’m a good all-rounder with a good punch for the end of the races,” he said, which sounds familiar to his BMC teammate Philippe Gilbert.

I asked Silvan if he knew his schedule for the 2015 season after riding Down Under and the Cadel Road Race. I also asked him if he would ride his first Grand Tour this season.

“My programme will more or less be the same as last year, with the same focus on the Classics and I will ride a Grand Tour. I would like to return to the Worlds TTT to defend out title.”

As for his own personal objectives in terms of wins or development, he says that he isn’t thinking too much about winning races but would take a chance if it came his way, but his biggest goal is his development particularly in the classics and time trials.

“I want to develop more as a rider, for example I would like to understand how to race the Classics better as this is really important. I also wish to develop my other skills like time trialling. I think I can progress there so I will try to do this as well.”

Dillier’s variety of skills make him a potential race winner in many race situations. He will be a big star in the future, but here at CyclingQuotes, we see him as a rider who can really excel in 2015. This is why he made our list as a youngster to watch out for in 2015. Watch this space.