The future shines bright. Tour de France 2012

There has been a lot of talk at this year's tour. Isn't there always? The 'talk' is that it has so far been uneventful and hasn't lived up to the hype and expectations it possibly should have. However, even though cycling fans may be a little disillusioned, there is still much to take away.

Tour de France 2012 has seen what has been described as 'a changing of the guard'. Younger riders have stepped up to the plate, stamping their arrival and enticing us with what we can expect in the years ahead. Names like Thibaut Pinot, Pierre Rolland, Tejay Van Garderen and Peter Sagan all come to mind.

They have been able to provide nuggets of excitement when perhaps there wasn't much to be enthusiastic about.

Pinot's bold attack on stage 8 that lead to taking the stage win showed us that we may have just seen a glimpse of a future yellow jersey winner. And then there was Pierre Rolland taking one of the toughest stages in this years tour, stage 11, even after crashing on the decent (and yes we will forgive his little indiscretion of lack of sportsmanship on stage 14 for now). 

Tejay Van Garderen has shown that he is a star of the future with suggestions that he is already stronger than his team leader Cadel Evans with his superb time trial performance and his strength and resolve up the mountains.

And then of course there is Peter Sagan. Sagan has had an outstanding year so far. He dominated the Tour of California with 5 stage wins and walked away with the sprinters jersey. Now he is continuing his brilliant form already notching up three stage wins at Le Tour and dominating out on the road to ensure he will be packing the green jersey in his suitcase in Paris.

Yes, the tour may have been a little lackluster and uneventful in the GC department (so far), but we as cycling fans have a lot to look forward to in the years ahead with these amazing young talents, that is certain.

Who's your favourite up and coming rider?