Fabian Cancellara retired from cycling more than three years ago, but the former Olympic time trial champion remains a fan and says he is impressed by the new generation of riders who have emerged in the last two seasons.

Citing teenager Remco Evenpole, multidisciplinarian Mathieu van der Pol, and Tour de France winner Egan Bernal, the former Swiss pro told an audience at Sigma Sport on Thursday that his shoes will never be filled, though, said he enjoys watching new players emerge as stars.

"My shoes will never be filled. Because they are no longer here on earth. That's a good thing, and that's good for the sport. It was a great season with young riders," Cancellara said.

The 2019 season saw many names on the world stage. Evenpoel won Clasica San Sebastián in his first year on the World Tour, while Van der Pol won Amstel Gold and Tour of Britain after doing cyclo-cross, mountain biking, and road, and was the leading contender for the Yorkshire rainbow jersey.

The World Championships road race was ultimately won by Mads Pedersen, a 23-year-old Dane who joined Trek-Segafredo as a first-year pro a year after Cancellara retired in 2016.After a successful debut World Tour season in 2018, Bernal even stronger and took his first win in the Grand Tour in July.

"With Evenpole, Van der Pol, and Bernal, I could see the young guys coming up," Cancellara said.

Cancellara, a three-time winner of both the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, also suggested that riders should be wary of the hype surrounding riders who have achieved fame at a young age.

"They are in their first or second year, but next year we have to see how they deal with things like pressure. We'll have to see how they handle it, but from the way they've been racing, I think they'll keep going. But it will be good to see a combination of young and experienced drivers."

Cancellara was in London for the Supresto shoe launch. Cancellara is still active on the bike, but he balances his business, family life, and his own racing series.

"I have a lot less time to ride and I have to find time to ride. It's the same for 99 percent of us. As a professional, you have to ride, and there are no excuses."