Development Jarno Widar wins Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23

In the U23 version of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the riders faced a 174-kilometer race with key challenges along the way, such as the Côte de Stockeu and the Côte de la Redoute. On the latter climb, Widar, who was already considered one of the top favorites, decided to test his legs for the first time. “I felt really good today, so I decided to attack on La Redoute,” Widar reflected after the race. “At the top of La Redoute, I had about a twenty-second lead. But going solo at that moment wasn’t the best option, the chasing group was too strong. I decided to let them catch up so I could recover and save my strength for a second attack. That was clearly the right tactic.”

That second attack came during the final kilometer. Widar launched another burst of speed, and this time, no one could respond. He crossed the line solo, claiming victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23. “In the final kilometer, I made my ultimate move. I created a gap and then went full throttle. Once I was off, it was just over a kilometer of giving everything until the finish,” Widar said.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a prestigious race for U23 riders, so it's evident that this victory holds great significance. “This win means a lot to me,” Widar beamed afterward. “Liège-Bastogne-Liège is one of my dream races. To win it now in the U23 category is very special. The team rode fantastically today – everyone did their job perfectly, and we stuck to the plan. Thanks to them, I was able to play my cards at the right moment.”

Photo: Brecht Steenhouwer