"Top physical talent" Widar has a lot to learn: "Will he be a new Pogacar? No one can predict that"

Jarno Widar is the biggest talent in Belgian cycling. The top teams are lining up for the eighteen-year-old climber, which makes sense: At his age, no one cycles uphill like he does. But besides his physical qualities, he still has to mature a lot.

Tuesday night, Widar won the prize for best Belgian promise at the gala of the Kristallen Fiets. The winner of the Giro Next Gen is wanted by top teams, especially after the cracks that have emerged in the relationship between the Belgian and his team, Lotto Dstny. His manager, Yannick Prévost, sees that his pupil's physical qualities are drawing attention. "His power output is outstanding," he analyzes with Het Laatste Nieuws. ''You always have to speak cautiously because the journey is still long, but his numbers are very good. Without a doubt, we are dealing with a top physical talent."

Beyond his strength on the bike, the youngster still has to develop. He can still live more like a pro, Prévost agrees. But his technique on the bike is not yet ideal, either. For example, he lost a minute and a half in a neutralized descent. "Jarno can still work on all those things. At his age, it is standard for things to evolve still." His current employer, therefore, wants to guide him with caution: a WorldTour debut is not yet in the cards in 2025. "For the next two or three years, he must concentrate on one-week stage races. He has the qualities required for the elite and dreams of winning grand tours, but will he be a new Vingegaard or Pogacar? No one can predict that."

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World Championship and Tour de l'Avenir are big goals in 2025

The following season will focus on two goals: The World Championship in Rwanda and the Tour of the Future. Widar was the top favorite there this year, but he finished only 29th. "Because that race was a main goal, he put it somewhat in his head that he failed there, but that's not the case. His season was already successful," Prévost said.