Development Jarno Widar elected ‘Young talent of the Year’

Anyone who thought Jarno Widar had already enjoyed a breakthrough year last season will find even more to admire on his palmarès this year. Victories in Liège–Bastogne–Liège U23 and the Flèche Ardennaise. Stage wins in the Circuit des Ardennes, Ronde de l’Isard, Giro NextGen, Giro della Valle d'Aosta–Mont Blanc, and the Tour de l’Avenir. And the crowning glory: European U23 champion.

There was no stopping Widar, and so he may call himself- again for the second consecutive year- ‘Belofte van het Jaar' (Young Talent of the Year, ed.) during the Kristallen Fiets week. No gala this year; Widar received the trophy at home. “I realise this was an exceptional season,” he says. “I’ll always look back on it with great pride. It’s an honour to see it recognised with a trophy. As a rider, I’ve grown enormously over the past year. You can see that not only in my results, but also in the way I race, how I feel, and how much I enjoy myself now. I want to build on that feeling next year.”

Widar won no fewer than three stages in the Giro della Valle d’Aosta and claimed the overall victory. In the prestigious Tour de l’Avenir, he won two stages and finished second overall, behind only Paul Seixas. But the most beautiful victory, he says, was that European jersey. “Everything came together that day. All the hard work, my form, and the confidence of the team. Of course, I have new dreams- next season I’ll turn pro and will ride, among others, Strade Bianche, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Vuelta as my first Grand Tour. But I’m already very proud of what I’ve achieved so far.”

Picture: PhotoNews