Despite his tender age of 21, Sebastian Henao of Team Sky already looks like the next grand Tour star to emerge from Colombia. The Team Sky youngster is very highly thought of amongst the pro peloton.

“He's a phenomenal talent – there’s no doubt about that,” says Sir Dave Brailsford, Team Sky’s principal and a man not given to throwing around superlatives too easily, to Sky Sports News.

He had a quiet neo-pro year, just learning the ropes at the team and working in support of others. Although there was the small matter of taking on a tough Giro d’Italia at just 20, and finishing 22nd overall in his debut Grand Tour. He even managed a two top ten stage finishes on route to fifth in the Young Riders Classification.

The cousin of Team Sky rider Sergio Luis Henao spoke to Sky Sports about his neo-pro year and his epic Grand Tour debut.

“To come over to Europe means a lot to me and to be able to ride such a big race as the Giro d’Italia last year was really special,” Henao, who had previously ridden for lower-level Colombian teams, tells skysports.com.

“One thing I didn’t know was how I would manage in the final week, so it was a surprise to be riding at that level right up until the end of the race. Those days at Val Martello and Cima Grappa were very satisfying and a great feeling.”

Sebastian is surrounded by quality, regularly training with riders like Chris Froome, Richie Porte and Bradley Wiggins at Sky camps and living in Pamplona, Spain, where he trains with Nairo Quintana, Sergio Henao and a few other Colombians. With such class surrounding him from such a young age, much is expected.

“Riding and training with people like Froomey and Wiggo, you learn a lot, not only on the bike but off the bike as well,” he says.

He has set two big goals for the season, the Tour de Langkawi, where he is eyeing his first pro win, before he hopes to return to the Giro, where he is looking to improve on last year’s result.

“I have heard a lot of good things about the Tour de Langkawi,” Henao adds. “It is a hard race with the heat, but I think it will suit me well and I would like to get into the top three.”

“Later, I would like to go back to the Giro, try to get some good results and maybe go for the best young rider’s jersey, depending on the team’s objectives.”

And listening to more comments from Brailsford, it sounds like Heano’s wish will be granted as Braislford evidently believes in the talent of the 21 year old and clearly sees him as a successor to Froome, Contador, Valverde and Rodriguez when they leave the sport. Quintana and Rigoberto Uran may no longer be Colombia’s best Grand Tour riders.

“I actually think that the longer the race, the better he will be, so over time I think he will develop into a fantastic stage-race rider.”

“He is also a great character and I think he has got the right personality to go with that talent,” he adds. “He is one of the most liked guys in the team, despite having very limited English. He gets on with his job with a smile. He is happy and has an exuberance about him.”