"My big idol is Peter Sagan and I hope to develop like him in some way" - Strade Bianche revelation Francesco Busatto

If you haven't been living under the rock for the past 12 months, you might have already stumbled across the name Francesco Busatto. The 21-year-old Italian has taken a massive leap forwards last year already, when he won his first ever race with Liège - Bastogne - Liège U23. And now, already among pros, he's getting to know the biggest races, and he does so in style with 14th place at recent Strade Bianche.

"I started cycling when I was fourteen and I have never won before," the Intermarché - Wanty rider reveals to WielerFlits. "Not with the juniors, not with the newcomers, not with the other youth. Never. I have always been smaller than my opponents. It wasn't until two years ago that I became their physical equal."

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"I wanted to be a professional cyclist," Busatto says about his youth. "My big idol was Peter Sagan, although I think everyone from my generation says that. He has a huge personality, has a lot of energy and races very spectacularly. I hope to one day develop myself into the same type. I'm not a heavy guy, but I am quite explosive. Not as fast as Sagan, but I hope to develop like that in some way."

"I must say that I still have a lot to learn and discover. I do a lot of important races, where I can see how far I can get. That we don't have an outspoken leader for the Ardennes classics? Nice, but I don't feel like the leader to go there. This year I will only be riding the Amstel Gold Race and the Brabantse Pijl, because I will also start in the Tour de Romandie on the Tuesday after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I am not taking any risks in this already tough program."

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