Columbia-HTC specializes in spotting bright young stars of the future.  With 22 riders on its men's and women's teams aged 26 and under, this promises to be another year of opportunity for some of cycling's youngest athletes, including 21-year-old Tejay Van Garderen of the USA.  "It's very motivating when you see what Columbia-HTC has already achieved, and to know that you are going to become part of that, too," commented Van Garderen upon signing with the team for 2010.

Van Garderen is an impressively versatile rider. A former national U-18 USA time trial champion, in his three years racing in Europe as a amateur he's picked up a stage in the Tour de L'Avenir and the overall of the Tour de Haut Anjou in France, a stage of the Olympia Tour in Holland, the GP William Tell one-day Classic in Switzerland,  and the ultra-difficult Circuito Montañes stage race in Spain.  "I'm not a one-trick rider," he points out, "although stage racing is probably where I'm focusing more on at the moment."

Born in Tacoma, Washington in the USA, Van Garderen grew up in Bozeman, Montana where a flourishing university racing scene made it easy for him to start riding competitively. Plus there was a certain family tradition for him to follow, too.  "My father's Dutch, and was a good amateur rider. After messing around with MTB bikes a bit, one day I discovered this old bike frame belonging to one of my father's ex-teammates hanging up in a closet in our home. We sorted it out, cleaned it up and it all went from there."

Van Garderen first rode for a top Colorado amateur squad, then was talent spotted by  the USA U-23 development program, racing in Europe.  "The U-23 program was a great system for getting exposure to European racing, they've got a house in Belgium for up to 25 riders to stay at any one time.  It was very organized, a great system."

By the time he left the program at the end of 2007, Van Garderen was ready to step up another level, and 12 months later he came close to signing for Columbia-HTC.  "Allan Peiper [Columbia-HTC sports director] gave me a call about turning professional in 2009, but I'd already signed with an amateur team for that year.  I was a bit nervous because you never know if that call's going to come through again, but fortunately it did."

Having made it to the pro ranks, Van Garderen wants to progress as quickly as possible with Columbia-HTC, and he believes he's right to have high expectations.  "Look at guys like Mark Cavendish and Tony Martin.  It's clear Columbia-HTC knows how to get the most out of talented young pros, and how to turn them into winners."