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The Coppi e Bartali beckons, Jarno Widar and sports director Wesley Van Speybroeck look ahead

A celebration in Italy as the anniversary edition of the Coppi e Bartali starts tomorrow. Over the next five days, our young riders will have the opportunity to showcase their talents. "We can take on the race as underdogs," says Van Speybroeck.
Race 24 March 2025
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To celebrate the anniversary edition of Coppi e Bartali, we return to where it all began. The city of Ferrara will once again host the start of the first stage, just as it did during the inaugural edition. The opening stage is the only flat stage of the week, providing an opportunity for the sprinters. After that, the serious climbing begins with four tough stages in the Italian hills.

Seven riders will line up tomorrow: Jarno Widar, Aldo Taillieu, Arne Baers, Kamiel Eeman, Milan Donie, Niels Driesen, and Milan Menten. They will compete against several WorldTour teams, but Widar isn’t putting pressure on himself. "I plan to approach this race with the same mindset I had when racing as a junior. The joy in what I do will always be the priority. I’ll see where I end up; as long as I give everything I have at this moment, I’ll be satisfied," said Widar.

What started as a tribute to the Italian cycling legends has now evolved into a prestigious stage race that highlights emerging talent. Wesley Van Speybroeck also emphasizes the valuable learning opportunities for the next generation: "We get to race here as underdogs, which is a great position to be in. There are no expectations, but if everything falls into place, we could pull off a surprise. With such a strong field at the start, the experience gained here will undoubtedly play a key role in their continued development."

Photo: Brecht Steenhouwer