Giuseppe Acquadro is the representative for many of the most exciting young riders in the peloton and has an inside knowledge about their capabilities and potential. Despite having riders like Nairo Quintana, Sergio Henao and Rigoberto Uran in his ranks, Acquadro thinks that Michal Kwiatkowski can become the best rider in the world in the near future.

Giuseppe Acquadro may not be a household name for cycling fans but nonetheless he plays a huge role. As the representative for riders like Nairo Quintana, Rigoberto Uran, Carlos Betancur, Sergio Luis Henao, Michal Kwiatkowski, Andrey Amador, Vasil Kiryienka, Kanstantin Siutsou, Fredrik Kessiakoff, Salvatore Puccio, Davide Appollonio, Jonathan Castroviejo, Koldo Fernández de Larrea, David Lopez, Xabier Zandio, Igor Antón and Mikel Nieve, he has deep insight into the capabilities of some of cycling's major stars.

2013 has been dominated by Colombians, with Quintana, Betancur, Uran and Henao all shining in the biggest races. It is no wonder that Acquadro is proud of the performances of his South American rider but his Polish star, Michal Kwiatkowski, has a special place in his heart.

For a long time, the Pole was known as a strong time trialist but 2013 was the year when he revealed the true nature of his versatile talents. He was 11th in the Tour de France and 4th in the Tirreno-Adriatico and so proved that he is a formidable stage racer, he was 4th in the Amstel Gold Race and 5th in the Fleche Wallonne and so showed that he masters the Ardennes classics, by riding in a long breakaway in the Tour of Flanders, he proved that he can ride on the cobbles, and his fast sprint allowed him to get close to a stage win in the Tour de France on a number of occasions.

That kind of versatility is extremely rare in the specialized world of professional cycling and according to Acquadro, the Pole has no limits.

"For me it is no surprise because Michal has an outstanding engine," he told Biciciclismo. "I have known him since he was a junior rider when [Michal] Golas presented him to me. I said: "We have a guy what if he trains very hard will be very good." Nobody believed me.

"He has enormous potential. He can reach a very high level and be number or two in the world in two or three years. The only question is what he wants to focus on. I think it is good that riders focus on more than one race at a time. However, it is evident that he will have to focus on certain races in the coming years."

After years of working in the service of others, Uran finally got his own chance in a grand tour when Bradley Wiggins fell out of contention in the Giro d'Italia. The Colombian didn't disappoint his manager and won a big mountain stage before finishing 2nd overall.

In 2014 he will leave the British team to take a leadership role at Omega Pharma-Quick Step. According to Acquadro, it was necessary for him to find a place where he could test the true extent of his potential.

"Rigoberto is more than a friend, he is almost like a son," he said. "During his entire career, he has been close to Omega. When he rode for Tenax [in 2006], we talked about going to Quick Step but we signed a contract with Unibet and then Caisse and Sky. Finally, he has signed a good contract and he has the potential to improve as the sole leader in the grand tours and the weeklong races. It is something he needed to try.

At Sky, it was complicated to have your chance with riders like Froome and Porte. Yes, he had one in this year's Giro but that won't be the case every year. I think he is ready mentally and physically. He was unlucky at the Worlds because we never found out if he could have won or beon on the podium [Uran crashed on a descent on the final lap]. Already at 20 years of age, he was third in Il Lombardia. He has demonstrated his qualities in long and important races."

Acuqadro faced an uphill battle to help save Igor Anton's career when his Euskaltel team folded. A lifeline was thrown last week by Movistar and the Basque will now change his leadership role for one as a domestique.

"We were talking to two or three teams," Acquadro said. "Before the Vuelta when Euskaltel announced its demise, we were very close to signing a contract with Omega but when the Alonso project was presented, Igor decided to stay. And of course, Omega had the chance to sign other riders instead. Then Movistar and two other teams showed interest and finally he joined a team from his own country. I think he will achieve his own results and support leaders like Valverde and Quintana. It is a slightly different role that will allow him to get more confidence and be more consistent."