Fernando Gaviria (1994 Etixx-Quick Step) is one of the attractions of the Tour de San Luis which starts next Monday in Argentina, after the cycling world discovered him last year when he beat Mark Cavendish twice. The Colombian acknowledges he now feels "more pressure" but is confident that his work will pay off on a year loaded with challenges, with the track World Championships and the Olympics featuring as the highlights.

In San Luis, Gaviria will have a team at his service as he will be supported by Maximiliano Richeze, Fabio Sabatini, Stijn Vandenbergh, Lukasz Wisniowski, Rodrigo Contreras. The two Colombians will debut as professionals after being stagiares last year with the Belgian team. "The training went well to get to San Luis in a good condition and I will try to get a victory. The race made me known in the WorldTour which allowed me to be where I am now with a great team like Etixx-Quick Step," he says. In fact, the memory of 2015 is unforgettable: "It was a dream year, well planned, and we were doing all things well, except that I was out of the U23 Worlds with a knee injury. I do not regret anything because it was a phenomenal year and I finished the season happy.”

And at the same time, he knows that he will now be monitored and followed. "I feel more pressure. Sometimes I feel more nervous than usual. I am aware that many expect a lot of me in San Luis; for that I'm working, trying to win what I want.” 

The Colombian knows his schedule, at least the first part: "After San Luis, I will travel back to Colombia to do the national championships. In mid-February, I will go to Europe where I will ride Haut Var and Provence, and then the Worlds on the track in London with the Colombian team.” In the British capital, between March 2 and 6, he will defend the rainbow jersey in the omnium after he won ahead of Australian Glenn O'Shea and Italian Elia Viviani in Paris last year.

This season he will combine road and track, with the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August on the horizon: "This year the team has given me the chance. I like to be a bike rider and have fun on the bike. To do two disciplines fascinates me. So I prepare very well for the Worlds and the Olympics. It's a race and a new experience for all riders in the world who want to do the sport that I love. After the Games, I will focus on the road. My preparation for the track will be less although I do not abandon it completely.”

For now, he is known for his speed and is regarded as one of the sprinters of the future. "I see myself as a rider that always wants to win, whenever there is a possibility. I am one of those who believe that there may be no more opportunities so I prefer to take every opportunity and achieve more wins. I do not care how: I always want to win," he confirms. "I can do well in medium mountains but we have to analyze the stages well. If there is a stage that favors me more the next day and I'm in doubt about going for one, I prefer to take it easy and focus on the next day," he says.

Last year, he touched the sky at only 20 years of age when he beat Cavendish in San Luis and Greipel in the Tour of Britain. "Many people ask me what I felt when I beat Cavendish and I do not know what to say because I cannot express that feeling. He is one of the best sprinters." he says. In fact, he was his teammate at Etixx-Quick Step last autumn. "He is a great rider and surprised me with his behavious. He had a different approach. I did not think he would welcome me like he did. I was very surprised," he recalls. "And I could not believe it when I beat Greipel. My way to celebrate the victories was crazy,” he says.

He has started to fulfill his dreams; yet he is still a lot to achieve. For now, he is pointing to two monuments: "Winning Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix. They are totally different, I know. One of them is the longest and most demanding, and I find the Roubaix cobblestones interesting. I won’t find better teachers: Boonen, Stybar, Terpstra ... I can learn from them." He adds: "The grand tours are races that I would one day do with great motivation. Any of the three will bring my body to a higher level.”

He also welcomes Marcel Kittel, his teammate at Etixx-Quick Step. "I want to learn from him, and I will ride with him because I want to know how the team works, to feel how my teammates can do a lead-out and do the best job for their leader,” he concludes.