Three seconds separated Lorenzo Mark Finn from the final podium of the Tour de l'Avenir, won by Paul Seixas ahead of Jarno Widar and Jorgen Nordhagen. It's easy to think we have the champions who can offer us the challenges of the future, but for now, we're just enjoying them, knowing they're at different stages of their development and maturation. Finn had kept Italy on the podium until the morning of the last day of this Future TowerIn fact, in the semi-stage race on Friday morning, the men in the general classification were unable to make the difference (photo Tour de l'Avenir at the top).
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It took a monster performance from French talent Paul Seixas in the afternoon to open up a significant gap. The only one to cover the 10,6 kilometres from Montvalezan to La Rosiere with an average speed above 25 kilometres per hourOur Lorenzo Finn's voice doesn't betray any disappointment, it's as solid as his legs.
«The final day on Friday – he said over the phone – with the two half-stages, was tough. In the morning the stage was short (only 41,6 kilometers, ed.) but we did it with fireThe afternoon time trial, however, was quite long. It's true that I missed out on the podium by a hair's breadth, but I'm happy with my week. In the end I finished just three seconds behind Nordhagen and seven seconds behind Jarno Widar. It means that the level is good, I can be there."
From the initial prologue you had shown that you were doing very well…
It was probably my best chance to win a stage because I knew that on such a short, uphill stage, I could do well. It's a shame to have finished so close behind Seixas. (the gap was 7 hundredths, ed.). In the days of high altitude retreat I felt good, I suffered a bit with the race pace in the first two or three stages but then I got better and better.
You arrived ready for the queen stage, the fifth, where however no significant gaps emerged…
We all remained together, we favorites: Seixas, Widar, Nordhagen and Ramirez. I never expected we would stay this closeNo one managed to make a difference in the road stages and this shows that the level was really high. The fifth stage included three climbs and 4.000 meters of altitude difference., it was really hard.
Is a group of future stage race riders being created?
We'll see, we can't say yet. Seixas has already shown that he can finish in the top ten at the DauphinéIf he can't easily separate us, it means we might join in a few years. But we can't say that without proof.
You reunited with Seixas after a year in the WorldTour…
True, we haven't raced against each other since the World Championships in Zurich. His running style hasn't changed much, it always goes fast uphill, but more or less the same as last year. We both improved while remaining close in performance. He managed to make the difference in the final hill climb, and he deserves congratulations. I followed the values that the team had set for me and I am very happy about this.Maybe a little tired from the morning stage, but I didn't underperform.
What did you see of the other contenders for the final victory?
I had already met Widar at Giro Next Gen and in other races, I know he has a "shot" in the last 500 meters which allows him to make a difference. He won two stages this way, so he lived up to his characteristics.. Probably what was missing was a more selective uphill finish or a challenging final stage, rather than two semi-stages.
This was your second week-long stage ride, did you see any improvement?
In the last stages I felt much better than the Giro Next Gen, where I felt a bit tired in the final stages. That's why I say I'm happy with my performance here at Avenir.. After all, this is my first year as an under-23 and these two stage races will be a goal in 2026 too.
Is the season now ending with the World Cup and European Championships?
First I'll race the Pantani Memorial and the Matteotti, then I'll fly to Rwanda. But yes, the World Championships and European Championships will be my end-of-year goals. Since Seixas, Nordhagen and Torres will not be there (the UCI has banned riders under 23 who are already racing professionally from participating in the World Championships and European Championships in their category, ed.) I would say that the big rival will be Widar.
