Carlos Betancur, signed by Ag2r La Mondiale for this season, was something of a surprise. After all, the French team isn't famous for its Spanish-speaking riders and Betancur, a Colombian, didn't bring any other riders with him.
But Betancur - like the other 'big name' arrival at the team, Domenico Pozzovivo - had a healthy collection of points which helped the team maintain its World Tour status. All of which goes a long way in explaining the presence of the lone Colombian on the team.
Betancur has produced some decent results for his new team as well - riding strongly in the Tour of the Basque Country (finishing a fighting eighth overall) and his third place in the Flèche Wallonne, where he was only overhauled 50 metres from the line, are not a bad return for the team's investment.
Betancur's third place was the team's best-ever result in a Classic (even if the spine of the team is the old 'Casino' outfit, but we needn't recall Bo Hamburger's Flèche rides). The team also needed a rider who could finish in the top 10 in bigger stage races, with Jean-Christophe Peraud and John Gadret not getting any younger and youngster Romain Bardet still a few years off his peak.
Betancur, who is only 23, rode for Aqua & Sapone in 2012, but "I wanted to move to a team that would enable me to ride races like Liege-Bastogne-Liege and move up to the next level. It was a tough decision because I liked the team and (manager) Vincent Lavenu made me a good offer. I'm getting on well with the whole team, from staff to riders, plus there are quite a few Italian riders in the team, I feel at home."
Betancur feels "at home" with the Italian riders in a French team because he is based in Italy when he is not back home in Colombia and his coach is none other than Liege-Bastogne-Liege (and Classics) specialist, Michele Bartoli.
"It was my old Aqua & Sapone manager Franco Ghini who put us in touch," explained Betancur, "Franco asked Michele if he would be interested in coaching me just over a year ago and he has made a huge difference to my training - he's my secret weapon! Before I was riding for hours and hours and not thinking too much about it, now my training is very specific, much more focused and he seems to know what I need to progress."
And, if all of this sounds too good to be true - after all Betancur is only one of several Colombian riders to break through in the last couple of years - what was his explanation?
"I think the anti-doping is better and also, especially, the biological passport has made a big difference." So, with raging good form, sky-high morale, a team prepared to back him and a former Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner training him, might we see a Colombian on the podium in Liege this Sunday? It really wouldn't be a surprise if there was, not anymore.
Follow @KenBobPryde
Related links
Daniel Moreno scores biggest win in Fleche Wallonne
Daniel Moreno solos to surprise Fleche Wallonne win
Spring Classics 2013 coverage index
Read Cycling Weekly magazine on the day of release wherever you are in the world with our iPad and iPhone edition - International digital edition, UK digital edition. And if you like us, rate us!
'I'd love to be an F1 driver': Get to know GB track sprinter Emma Finucane
'I felt like I was the worst rider in the bunch' - Simon Carr dispels doubt with longest ever solo win at Tour of the Alps
