ProTeam Jarno Widar triumphs in third stage of Circuit des Ardennes

With a 173-kilometer course animated by several climbs, Widar found a route that suited him perfectly. On the final climb—a kilometer at an average gradient of 6.8%—he kept a cool head and timed his effort perfectly. With a powerful acceleration, he left his rivals behind and took the victory.

“We started off with a fast first hour, after which the pace dropped a bit until the first climb. From the second climb onwards, we took control to really open up the race. In the finale, the team dropped me off perfectly with one kilometer to go. I launched my sprint around 350 to 400 meters from the line and felt I was pulling away. In the end, I won with a solid gap,” said a very satisfied Widar. “I’ve worked hard for this moment, and it’s great to see that my preparation is paying off. I’m really looking forward to the stages to come.”

His strong performance earned him not only the polka dot jersey and the best young rider jersey but also a solid leap in the general classification: Widar now sits in second place, just one second behind the yellow jersey. His teammate Kamiel Eeman also impressed. After finishing fourth in stage 1, he once again rode a very strong race and sprinted to a solid ninth place. His performance underscored the team’s collective strength in this stage.

Photo: Alexis Dancerelle