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Belgian pundit suggests Lotto should promote supertalent Jarno Widar to main team ASAP: "With his attacking attitude, he fits into a professional peloton"
CyclingFriday, 11 October 2024 at 23:00
Talented Belgian Jarno Widar made a stunning entrance to the world of pro cycling with victories at U23 Giro and Valle d'Aosta. However after unsuccessful Tour de l'Avenir, things had gone in all directions between the 18-year-old and his employer Lotto Dstny. The sharks (read as big teams) didn't take long to start circling around the Belgian climber in attempt to lure away the promising rider from "small" PRT team. Lotto boss Stéphane Heulot however condemned all discussions, referring to Widar's running contract with the Belgian team.
Normally, Widar should spend another year at Lotto Dstny's development team before turning pro, but according to Michael Wuyts, there is no reason to wait to promote Widar to the main team. "He (Heulot) shouldn't wait for the transfer," Wuyts wrote in Het Laatste Nieuws. "With his attacking attitude, he fits into a professional peloton with more and more adventurers. Of course, finding a place in a good team won't be easy."
Wuyts also points to the fierce competition that Widar had to endure time and again in the U23s. "You don't just become a top rider among sky-stormers like Del Toro, Morgado, Vacek, Blackmore, Christen or Svrcek. Add to that the fact that grandmasters Pogacar and Evenepoel are 24 and 26 respectively. Just go for it."
And so Wuyts thinks that the very young Belgian should stay with his current team. "The somewhat introverted Widar would be better off starting in a familiar environment. Lotto, without Dstny, then," the journalist refers to the departure of sponsor Dstny from the team. "The courtship with the twice as rich Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe may be charming, but the German system is a bit rigid for the Limburger."
The words of Lotto Dstny's CEO Stéphane Heulot are therefore particularly remarkable according to Huyts. "Give him a kind manager like Lotto man Kurt Van de Wouwer: understanding and stimulating. Much more efficient than the misplaced and quarrelsome finger of boss Heulot: 'Blah blah blah, Widar has duties as well as rights.' Poor thing. Then offer such a boy an ambitious but digestible program and give him a caring rider-mentor. Why do I already regret Campenaerts' departure?" Wuyts finally wonders out loud.
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