Belgium is still the first nation in the world rankings. Thanks to the leaders who are Evenepoel, Van Aert, Philipsen, Merlier, Van Gils and De Lie.
But behind it, there is a new generation. The amazing Jarno Widar reminded us of this by being the first Belgian rider to win the Giro d’Italia for hopefuls, the Giro d’Italia Next Gen. On this benchmark event, which since 1970 has included future big names in cycling such as Moser, Pantani, Simoni, Di Luca, or, in recent years, Sivakov, Vlasov, Pidcock and Ayuso, the Limburg puncher showed himself very authoritarian in the face of international competition.
Wearing the pink jersey from his success on the third stage, after an impressive uphill attack, the member of the continental Lotto Dstny Development Team dominated the rest of the event, taking another stage and victory final, as well as the best young person’s jersey.
Who is this young 18-year-old pocket-sized runner (1m66 for 52 kilos), who has just made an impression on the Baby Giro, but also with his victory on the Alpes Isère Tour and with his second places at the Flèche Ardennese (behind his teammate Milan Donie) and at the Ronde de l’Isard?
“He’s a real talentcomments Kurt Van de Wouver, the sports manager of Lotto Dstny. Last year, among juniors, he won on all fronts. On climbers’ races like the Classic of the Alps, but also on Flanders events, like Kuurne or the Tour of Flanders. But he’s more of a puncher-climber. And it’s a real winner. He comes to races to win.”
He has the record for the fastest climb of La Redoute ahead of… Pogacar
And in terms of his personality? “He’s a pretty calm boy”, replies Kurt Van de Wouver. A description shared by Laurent Mars, the manager of the Libramont-Chevigny club (Crabbé Dstny), through which Arnaud De Lie and many future pros, including this Widar, have passed. “He spent his two seasons among juniors in our teamhe explains. He’s a fairly quiet young man. And a real winning machine! It really has a pocket size, but is very sturdy. Moreover, for the anecdote, it is he who has the record for the fastest ascent on the La Redoute coast. In front of Pogacar… Even if we have to put things in context: Pogi had climbed this hill in the race and Jarno in training, during his reconnaissance of the Philippe Gilbert Juniors course.”
Another benchmark race that the little phenomenon also won.
“This Tour of Italy for the hopefuls can be compared to the Tour of the Futurecontinues Kurt Van De Wouver. We had often failed narrowly in recent years on this Baby Giro. With Lennert Van Eetvelt (Editor’s note: second in 2022 behind Leo Hayter, Ethan’s brother, and ahead of Lenny Martinez) or Henri Vandenabeele (Editor’s note: second behind Pidcock in 2020 and third a year later in the edition dominated by Ayuso). This is a great first for our development team.”
A team launched into a crazy season, with a solid group. “We started off well in Brussels-Opwijk (with Giddings) and the victories then continued on all fronts. ”
Four of the members of this development team are already guaranteed to move up to the pro team next year: the Belgians Steffen De Schuyteneer, Robin Orins and Lorenz Van De Wynkele and the Briton Joshua Giddings.
gull“He still needs to work on his placement”
Jarno Widar should normally stay one more year in the core of Lotto Dstny’s hopefuls before joining the first team in 2025.This has been an integral part of our vision of cycling for many seasons.adds Kurt van De Wouver. That of focusing on training, helping our young people progress, and getting them into the professional team. There have been so many examples in the past: De Gendt, Wellens, Benoot…” The late Bjorg Lambrechts, but also, recently, Van Gils or Van Eetvelt.
“Coming back to Widar, he’s a very good player. He still needs to work on his positioning in the race. This is his weak point, for the moment. But don’t forget that he is only in his first year among the hopefuls.”
Promised for a bright future, he should logically compete in the Tour de l’Avenir this summer. But his next objective will be the Tour du Val d’Aosta in July.
Another young future Belgian pro won a stage of the Baby Giro
