FORLIMPOPOLI – After the efforts of the Giro Next Gen It's time to release tension and surrender to emotion. Jarno Widar is the second pink jersey of the Giro U23 organized by the machine of RCS SportsA Belgian in pink, light, agile, fast on climbs, and with the confidence of a veteran. Yet he's young, very young indeed, given that he was born in 2005. For eight days, five of which spent in pink, Widar did not reveal any particular emotions.
The mask removed
The Belgian elf showed up at the press conferences behind the podium with the face of someone who doesn't want to let anything show. No expressions of fatigue, a few polite phrases and just a couple of well-placed answers. Yet, under the hot sun of forlimpopoli, Widar gave in to emotion.
The RCS men rushed him behind the awards stage. He, in quick response, He ran away like a canary from the cage as soon as he saw his teammate and fellow player Milan DonieA long hug, a torrent of tears to free every seal imposed by oneself. Lotto Dstny he found in Widar the possible man of the future, next year he will still be in the I have to team up ma There is already talk of a two-year contract in the WorldTour starting in 2026 for himJarno is growing up quickly, still with the face of a boy, but the strong legs of someone who knows how to do this job.
Unexpected success
Behind the awards stage there is the sport director who led him from the flagship, Wesley Van Speybroeck, a professional for six seasons and then aboard the team car. He, too, dazed by the heat and excitement, turns and turns, shaking hands and hugging masseurs and staff.
«We didn't expect it – he says after we brought him to the interview area – We were also together at the Alpes Isère Tour when he wonHe had gone strong, but from there to win the Giro Next Gen It's a matter of time. At the Aosta time trial, we told him to just take his own pace, and in the end he finished top 10. We moved day by day. He liked the climb at the end of the third stage (Pian della Mussa, ed.). We told him to try to take the jersey and he did, but this was not just the victory of WidarEveryone was fantastic, no exceptions. Milan Denie worked so hard in the Fosse stage, when there were only the two of them left in the group. He dictated the pace and Jarno didn't lose the jersey."
Hidden qualities
Jarno Widar is in his first year as an under-23 and has already achieved great results. His performances on the big mountains have amazed everyone, not just us.
«The way this winter arrived – says Wesley Van Speybroeck – I didn't think it could do so well on long climbs. On short climbs or medium-distance climbs, yes, he had already demonstrated it in the past (the double victory for Lunigiana It had been a test of that, ed.). At Alpes Isère we said to ourselves that he could also do well on the long climbs. The secret is that he worked hard this winter and during the training camps.that Switch mentally and physically he did it at Coppi e Bartali where he raced with the professionals and learned a lot, a lot."
Who is Widar?
This victory at Giro Next Gen has sparked curiosity around Jarno Widar. A success that has not extinguished the questions, on the contrary, he has given rise to new ones. What kind of rider is he?
«When he started working with us – concludes his sports director – he was not an all-round riderNow he's become a guy who excels on climbs and is suited to stage races. He'd never done more than five days of racing, now he's won an eight-day race. He's a perfect fit for our team, and next year he'll race even more with the pros, learning a lot. For the future, for Belgium, we hope for a stage racer.It's the first time that a rider from our country has won the U23 Giro."
