Development Jarno Widar triumphs in stage three of the Giro Next Gen and takes the pink jersey

The first summit finish on the tough Passo del Maniva was set to immediately reveal who’s truly in the running for the general classification in this Giro. The Lotto squad took matters into their own hands. “The plan was to make the race hard today. Aldo Taillieu controlled the break perfectly. After that, I told my teammates to set a strong pace on the first climb. Everyone executed their role perfectly,” Widar said after the stage.

In the final kilometers, Widar and Lorenzo Finn slipped away from the rest of the field. The defending champion waited patiently for the right moment and eventually launched his move on the punishing final climb. “When Lorenzo Finn attacked, I didn’t hesitate for a second and went with him. I could feel my legs were really good, but I didn’t want to go too early. I wasn’t sure if Lorenzo was suffering in the final kilometer or just playing mind games with me. That’s why I waited until the last 300 meters to unleash my final punch.”

He crossed the line seven seconds ahead of Finn, with the rest trailing by 24 seconds or more. Just like last year, Widar takes control on the very first summit finish. “Wearing the pink jersey is still something special. But there are some tough days ahead, so we’re keeping both feet firmly on the ground,” Widar concluded.

Photo: Brecht Steenhouwer