Widar Wonderkid

[GenericBoonenFan]

I'm going to jump the gun. That has never backfired before.

Jarno Widar is the most exciting Belgian prospect. Currenlty 19 years of age and reigning champion of the BabyGiro, this fine product of Belgian soil is set to turn pro with Lotto. We all know of the other Belgian wonderkid, dubbed to be the next Belgian winner of the Tour but I just don't think Cian can do it.

A native of Wellen (that's Wellens without an "s") he'll be well in the conversations of future GT-contenders. Truly the sky is the limit for this kid.

Today the 19-year old outclimbed the likes of Champoussin, Carapaz, Blackmore and JA Cepeda. The most interesting storyline in the next years however will be wether he stays at Lotto or leaves. The babyfaced Dave Franco lookalike will be on all our minds the next years. Let's enjoy it.

If you don't get my Dave Franco joke, than compare the younger version of the man with Jarno.

PS1: My first idea for a title would've been: "Wi(e)dar? Widar!"
PS2: My second idea was: "Jarne Widar, what how do you mean Jarno?" I think you can see why I didn't go with the latter.

 

[repre]

He is young gun. Explosive, huge acceleration. He'll win a lot of races.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I just hope they don't give him any media training or tell him to tone it down. They obviously haven't given De Lie any so positive signs!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Just won LBL U23

 

[Mayomaniac]

Just won LBL U23

Are they gonna send that vertically challenged wafflehouse cook to every big u23 race again, so that he's too tired for L'avenir, just like last year?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Are they gonna send that vertically challenged wafflehouse cook to every big u23 race again, so that he's too tired for L'avenir, just like last year?

Haven't been following his schedule. According to PCS, Avenir isn't even on the list.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Giro Next Gen, Avenir, U23 European and World Championships from the horses mouth last December, perhaps there have been changes since then though, he's also down for Ronde de l'Isard and Valle d'Aosta on PCS.

Just send him everywhere, what could possibly go wrong, Tour route looks soft this year, call him up early and get him going for GC.

Edit: Here it is https://www.lottocyclingteam.be/en/...n-young-talent-jarno-widar-commits-until-2027

 

[Lequack]

So now there are two Remcos.

 

[Peyroteo94]

This kid has everything to be a bust to be honest. We just need to look to his height and weight. When they are junior, these type of riders can be successful but with time, powerful riders will prevail. How many GT winners and monument winners did we have in the last 20 years with this height and weight? Probably just Quintana.

 

[Panda Claws]

Interesting take. I believe I once read that the optimal climber would nonetheless be a pygmy.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

This kid has everything to be a bust to be honest. We just need to look to his height and weight. When they are junior, these type of riders can be successful but with time, powerful riders will prevail. How many GT winners and monument winners did we have in the last 20 years with this height and weight? Probably just Quintana.

Except that Widar is a powerful rider as well, plus he's quite fast in a sprint. He does solos, wins GC sprints easily and he's a very good climber. As a junior, he wasn't even a real climber, more like puncher with an engine. Last year he started to focus more on climbing and he won baby Giro. He was more successful in the U23 than in the juniors. .

 

[Peyroteo94]

Except that Widar is a powerful rider as well, plus he's quite fast in a sprint. He does solos, wins GC sprints easily and he's a very good climber. As a junior, he wasn't even a real climber, more like puncher with an engine. Last year he started to focus more on climbing and he won baby Giro. He was more successful in the U23 than in the juniors. .

Time will tell. I already saw many riders like him (weight and height) doing well and then disappear in his late 20s.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Time will tell. I already saw many riders like him (weight and height) doing well and then disappear in his late 20s.

Time will tell. Not long ago people assumed short riders couldn't TT. Then Alaphilippe won a TDF ITT and Evenepoel is now World and Olympic champion. Widar doesn't fit the profile of the usual skinny short climber who gets dropped from the peloton when the race is raced hard. I'm not going to make predictions of what he can and can't do/win but i'm willing to bet he will win quite a few pro races.