Development Jarno Widar looks ahead to Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta: “I won’t let any opportunities slip away”

The Giro della Valle d’Aosta is known as one of the toughest U23 stage races. For Widar, this race is not only an opportunity to defend his title but also a crucial part of his preparation for one of his major objectives this season. “I want to use this week to prepare myself for the Tour de l’Avenir, which is high on my list,” Widar explains. “But of course, I won’t let any chances slip away this week. If your big goal doesn’t work out and you haven’t taken your chances, you end up with nothing. So I’m definitely going to try for a strong result.” Alongside Widar, the team will bring four other strong riders: Kamiel Eeman, Niels Driesen, Lucas Van Gils, and Milan Donie.

The riders will face five stages across three countries, covering 497.7 kilometers and over 11,000 meters of climbing. The race starts with a short but intense stage around Aosta, followed by an uphill individual time trial in the French Alps. “Stage two, the climbing time trial, probably won’t suit me as well,” Widar admits. “It’s raced on fresh legs, and that’s not really my strength.” 

However, the following stages offer the kind of terrain Widar thrives on. “The last three stages are really tough, with lots of climbing and fatigue starting to set in,” he explains. “It’s usually when fatigue kicks in that I perform at my best.” With that in mind, Widar hopes to make his mark in the second half of the race. “I want to try to go for a stage win,” he says. “After that, we’ll see how I feel and where I stand in the overall classification. The most important thing is to ride a solid week and gain confidence ahead of the Tour de l’Avenir.”

Photo: Brecht Steenhouwer