He came in as the top favourite, and he didn’t disappoint. The first real test of the Giro Next Gen 2025 delivered a commanding ride from Jarno Widar, who added the iconic Passo Maniva to his growing palmarès after having already conquered summit finishes at Pian della Mussa and Fosse last year. “I like pretty much all the climbs in Italy,” he said shortly after crossing the line. One year later, the rather tiny but very explosive Lotto Development team leader is back in the Maglia Rosa.
“The one I won last year? I’ve never washed it. I keep it in my room, right next to where I sleep”. The goal now? To keep it all the way to the finale in Pinerolo. Since the inception of the Giro Next Gen in 1970, no rider has ever claimed the overall title twice. But Widar could pull off a remarkable 2-for-2, especially since he’ll only race two seasons in the U23 category before making the jump to the WorldTour next year. Frankly, it’s a surprise he didn’t move up already, given his stellar 2024 campaign. First, though, five stages remain – and so do his rivals. One in particular stands out.
Lorenzo Finn (Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe Rookies) delivered a serious performance in the high mountains, launching the decisive move and staying glued to Widar’s wheel until just 150 meters from the line, when the defending champ’s ferocious acceleration proved too much. Italian fans have high hopes for the Ligurian, and today he showed exactly why. Despite being a neo-pro in the category, he raced with the composure of a seasoned veteran and didn’t panic after a nasty crash on the climb of Passo dei Tre Termini left him bloodied at the elbow and knee.
The day’s first attack came from Jørgen Nordhagen (Visma | Lease a Bike), but Finn’s squad controlled the damage with strong pacing – especially from powerhouse Luke Tuckwell, who finished fourth at 24 seconds. Once Nordaghen was reeled in, it was Finn who lit up the final.
“We rode really well. First they calmed me down after the crash, then they neutralized Nordaghen’s attack. On the road, we’re the strongest team.” And when asked directly if he expected to be on Widar’s level, or better than the rest, his answer came quick and sharp: “Yes. I expected it”. No shortage of confidence from this young talent.
Adrià Pericas (UAE Team Emirates GenZ) rounded out the podium, finishing in the same group as Tuckwell, both 24 seconds adrift. Fifth went to Pavel Novak (MBH Bank Ballan CSB) at 30 seconds, followed by the much-anticipated Jakob Omrzel (Bahrain Victorious) at 32”. Just behind were Albert Withen Philipsen (Lidl-Trek Future Racing) and Nordhagen at 36”, while Filippo Turconi (VF Group–Bardiani CSF–Faizanè) came in at 45”. The rest of the peloton was scattered far behind.
Now come three trap-filled transitional stages before the final showdown this weekend between Prato Nevoso and Pinerolo. Buckle up, it’s going to be a thrilling ride.
