20-year old Silvio Herklotz (Team Stölting) is one of the most promising U23 riders at the moment. And while many of his rivals have moved on to professional teams, the young German will continue in the U23 peloton in 2015, staying at Stölting for at least another year.

Herklotz' first senior season in 2013 was a revelation: He impressed in sprints, prologues, hills and even the high mountains, winning the German U23 championship and the Tour Alsace. At first sight, results were less remarkable this year, with only the GP Palio del Recioto a new addition to Herklotz' palmarès.

However, he also had a higher-profile race program, including several category 1 and HC races like the Bayern-Rundfahrt or the Tour de Luxembourg, where Herklotz kept up with the pros and finished sixth overall.

Racing in Luxembourg meant that Herklotz couldn't defend his U23 national title – that race was instead won by Stölting teammate Max Walscheid. Speaking with Herklotz' teammate through two years, Luke Roberts, another reason for the lack of absolute top results becomes clear: “Silvio obviously has a huge talent,” Roberts concurred. “He needs to develop his tactical skills if he wants to become a better cyclist than he already is; that's probably the limiting factor at the moment.”

Roberts continued: “I've worked with Silvio a lot over the last two years to help him. He has improved, but it's still his weakness. But he's still young, so he has time to develop in this area.”

This assessment fits very well with the results Herklotz achieved this year: In 2013 his pure talent and strong engine were often enough to secure top results. In 2014, racing in bigger races, he was usually able to stay with the front group, but lacked that little bit of race craft to get on the podium.

But Roberts is certain this will only be a temporary challenge for the young German: “He needs to gain more experience, and he will eventually develop to become a top professional.”

With his mentor going from the active peloton to a role as sports director at Cult Energy Pro Cycling, Herklotz will have to trust his own instincts more than before. Another season of racing and the need to spread his own wings should give him good experience to build upon on his way to the top.