John-Lee Augustyn is one of the sport's most exciting young climbers. The South African is in the mould of all the greatest exponents of the art of flying up mountain roads - he is small and slightly built, and he has already shown the world what he is capable of, crossing the summit of the highest pass in Europe, the 2,800m Col de la Bonette, at the head of the field in the biggest race of all, the Tour de France.
It was 2008, and Augustyn's first Tour, when he infiltrated the Alpine stage's main break, attacking his companions near the summit and adding his name to an exclusive list of two. The Tour had crossed the Bonette only three times, with Federico Bahamontes, the legendary Spanish climber, leading over on the first two occasions, in 1962 and 1964. In 1993, on the third visit, the first to the summit was another distinguished climbing specialist - and a Brit: Robert Millar of Scotland.
"It had been a very hard stage, but on the climb I felt really good," says Augustyn. "I had a great rhythm, and I felt I could climb the whole day. When my managers told me to attack, towards the top, I went as hard as I could, and it paid off."
Not surprisingly, given his love of hills, Augustyn's introduction to the sport came through mountain biking. "I'm from Port Elizabeth and my parents were into mountain biking. My brother is a downhill mountain biker - though I always preferred going uphill.
"In mountain bike races you just have to push yourself so hard," he explains. "There are no hiding places. But I think my build helps my climbing, too. I've got a small upper body and big legs."
In 2010 Augustyn will target the week-long stage races, mainly in Spain, which suit climbers like him. He will also hope not to repeat what happened immediately after cresting the summit of the Col de la Bonette in 2008, when he misjudged a corner, slid down the side of the mountain for several metres, before coming to a halt as he watched his bike disappear from view...
It was a dramatic crash, which has become a YouTube hit. "I've watched it a few times," admits Augustyn with a smile. "A photographer also gave me a picture of it - which I've got in my house! The main thing was that I wasn't hurt..."
