Jarno Widar is about to begin his first professional season. The Belgian is one of the most exciting young talents on the world scene and, in the Under 23 category, has already proven himself to be very strong on climbs. Yet, the Belgian doesn't feel like a Grand Tour rider: " It's not true that I'm a Grand Tour rider . That's what everyone expects of me, judging by what I read in the papers. Everyone thinks I want to be a Grand Tour rider, but I love the Ardennes classics much more. La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège... These are races I love and where I'd like to do very well one day. Why does everyone see me as a Grand Tour rider? You should ask the journalists. I'm not the one who writes in the papers. I don't really understand this label of pure climber because among the Under 23s, stage races last a week at most; it's unfathomable. Now I'm starting a completely new chapter. Everything that's happened so far no longer applies among the professionals."

Widar won the Giro d'Italia Next Gen in 2024 and in 2025 he won the European Championships, the Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Ronde de l'Isard, the Giro della Valle d'Aosta and two stages of the Tour de l'Avenir, which he finished second in the general classification, behind only the other talent Paul Seixas .  

This year, the Belgian will begin his season at the Figueira Champions Classic , before competing in the Ardèche Classic and Drôme Classic in France, and in the Trofeo Laigueglia and Strade Bianche in Italy. Widar will then start the Tour of the Basque Country, before competing in the Ardennes Triptych and Frankfurt. After a break from racing and a training camp, the Belgian talent will compete in the Tour of Switzerland , the Clasica San Sebastian , and the Vuelta a España , the first major race of his career.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency