Lorenzo Finn seals Giro Next Gen glory with L'Aquila time trial win

Lorenzo Finn seals Giro Next Gen glory with L’Aquila time trial win

Like a fairytale ending with the happiest of conclusions, Lorenzo Mark Finn has done it. Having started the 2026 Giro Next Gen as the overwhelming favourite for overall victory, he lived up to expectations, claiming not only the Maglia Rosa but also the two most significant stages of this year’s race: Friday’s summit finish on Monte Livata and, today, the final time trial in L’Aquila.

It was a complete and emphatic triumph for the rider from Liguria, who also etched his name into the history of Italian cycling. Lorenzo Finn became the first Italian to win the overall classification since 2011, when Mattia Cattaneo prevailed in the race then known as the Girobio. Fittingly, the two will be teammates next season in the professional ranks with Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe.

The Final Act

The 22.2-kilometre Villa Sant’Angelo–L’Aquila time trial brought the curtain down on the 2026 Giro Next Gen. It was a course far from tailor-made for pure specialists, coming at the end of a particularly demanding edition of the race that had tested every rider to the limit.
Lorenzo Mark Finn blew away the competition, stopping the clock in 29’03” at an average speed of 45.8 km/h. Joining the Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe Rookies rider on the stage podium were Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco), who finished 15 seconds behind, and Matisse Van Kerckhove (Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development), 32 seconds adrift. Yesterday’s stage winner, Frenchman Aubin Sparfel, was further back, finishing fourth at 45 seconds from the winner.

Historic triumph for Lorenzo Finn

Italy has claimed the 2026 Giro Next Gen, with Lorenzo Mark Finn celebrating the Maglia Rosa he had secured on Monte Livata. The rider from Liguria extended his advantage over Colombia’s Mateo Ramírez (UAE Team Emirates GenZ) to 2’10”, while Brazil’s Henrique Bravo (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) completed the final podium at 2’35”.

The triumph of the back-to-back world champion – among the juniors in 2024 and the Under-23 ranks in 2025 – came despite several difficult weeks. Finn had begun the 2026 season in spectacular fashion, winning the Trofeo Ses Salines in January before adding victories at the Giro del Belvedere and the Palio del Recioto in April. A crash at the Tour of the Alps, however, sidelined him for several weeks, but his recovery could hardly have gone any better. He returned to competition at the Giro Next Gen, claimed the Maglia Rosa, and next season will step into the professional ranks alongside Mattia Cattaneo. A circle completed, in a fairytale with the happiest of endings.

Results

STAGE RESULT
1 – Lorenzo Mark Finn (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe Rookies) – 22,2 km in 29’03”, average speed 48.851 km/h
2 – Adam Rafferty (Hagens Berman Jayco) – 16″
3 – Matisse Van Kerckhove (Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development Team) – 32″

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1 – Lorenzo Mark Finn (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe Rookies)
2 – Mateo Ramirez (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z) – 2’10”
3 – Henrique Bravo Ribeiro (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team) – 2’35”

Official Jerseys of the Giro Next Gen Carta Giovani Nazionale

The leader’s jerseys of the Giro Next Gen are designed and produced by Castelli.

Maglia Rosa, awarded to the leader of the General Classification and sponsored by Valsir – Lorenzo Mark Finn (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe Rookies)
Maglia Rossa, awarded to the leader of the Points Classification and sponsored by Vecchio Amaro del Capo – Davide Donati (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe Rookies)
Maglia Azzurra, awarded to the leader of the Mountains Classification and sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Matthew Dodd (INEOS Grenadiers Racing Academy)
Maglia Bianca, awarded to the leader of the Youth Classification, reserved for riders born in 2007, and sponsored by Suzuki – Javier Cubillas (Movistar Team Academy)
Maglia Tricolore, awarded to the leading Italian rider in cooperation with ITA – Italian Trade Agency – Lorenzo Mark Finn (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe Rookies)