Development Jarno Widar looks ahead to the Ronde de l’Isard

“I just got back from a ten-day altitude training camp in the Sierra Nevada. After that, it’s always a bit of a wait to see how the body recovers. So I’m not exactly sure how my body will react in the first few days. We’ll see how it goes, but we’re starting with a very strong team. Everyone is motivated and in good condition. As a team, I think we can definitely compete for the win.”

The Ronde de l’Isard consists of five stages, totaling around 700 kilometers of racing over five days. But it’s the more than 11,000 meters of elevation that make this race a true challenge. Four of the five stages include serious climbing, and one even finishes with an uphill finish. It’s clear: climbers will be in their element. And that’s good news for Widar: “The fourth stage really stands out. We’ll get an uphill finish at Barrage du Pla de Soulcem. It’s a pity there’s only one summit finish, since those stages tend to be the most decisive. But the course is tough enough to create time gaps.”

For Jarno, the Ronde de l’Isard is also an important part of his build-up to an even bigger goal: the Giro Next Gen, the U23 version of the Giro d’Italia, which starts in a few weeks and which he won last year in spectacular fashion. “This is truly the perfect preparation race. It’s important to arrive at the start in a few weeks with the right feeling and enough racing rhythm.”

Widar’s season has started very well so far. With wins in Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 and Flèche Ardennaise U23, he has already proven that his form is excellent.

Photo: Brecht Steenhouwer