The next generation of Garmin-Sharp riders are already beginning to emerge. Dutchman Dylan van Baarle took fourth in today’s stage of the Dubai tour behind Kittel, JJ Lobato and Sagan.

Jonathan Vaughters brought in 12 new riders this season and among them were some of the most talked about youngsters in the field: Nathan Brown, Ben King, Tom-Jelte Slagter, Lasse Norman Hansen, Andre Cardoso, Janier Acevedo and Dylan van Baarle.

Van Baarle was 2013 U23 Dutch RR and TT champion and he won the prestigious Thuringen Rundfahrt stage race while racing for the Rabobank U23 development squad.

He kept his head when attacks started to fly in the closing kilometres and he started his sprint early, showing his confidence, but was edged out by the three sprinters.

"It was very hectic in the finale. The bunch just exploded on the last climb and left just a little group (of 39 riders) for the finish," van Baarle told Cyclingnews as he gulped for air.

"Sebastian (Langeveld) set me up with 200 metres to go and then I went full gas but against Kittel, it's hard to do much better but I wanted to have a go."

The future looks very promising for Garmin-Sharp.