"He can definitely ride top 10 on the Mur de Huy": Belgian coach analyzes Jarno Widar after strong pro debut

Jarno Widar has wasted no time in showing the professional peloton what he is capable of. By sprinting to an impressive fourth place at the Figueira Champions Classic in Portugal, the 20-year-old Lotto-Intermarché rider confirmed the hype surrounding his move to the WorldTour. Following this explosive start, Belgian national coach Serge Pauwels has offered his perspective on what fans can expect from the 2024 Giro Next Gen winner in his rookie season.

Despite the strong start, Pauwels remains cautious when comparing Widar to other generational talents like Paul Seixas regarding immediate Grand Tour success. Pauwels is convinced that the new generation is ready to win big, but he sees a slight difference in timelines between the very top names.

"I have already made the statement, and I stick to it, that it will not take three years before someone like Paul Seixas stands on the podium of the Tour," Pauwels stated boldly in Wieler Revue.

Regarding Widar, however, he is more reserved about predicting instant Tour glory. "I do not want to make that statement about him yet. But it is a fact that he is not that far off either." For Pauwels, the fact that Widar can even be compared to a talent like Seixas is proof enough of his "exceptional category" status.

Looking at the calendar, Pauwels believes Widar’s specific characteristics could yield a top result as early as this spring. The young Belgian is set to race the Volta ao Algarve and Strade Bianche, but the coach points to the Ardennes Classics as the main opportunity.

"I am thinking, for example, of La Fleche Wallonne," Pauwels analyzed. "Purely on the Mur de Huy, he can definitely ride top 10, I am convinced of that. That is really a specialty."

Despite the physical talent displayed in Portugal, Pauwels warns that the jump to the WorldTour involves more than just power numbers. The biggest hurdle for Widar will be navigating the chaos of the peloton.

"That [challenge] lies more in the work before it, the positioning," the coach predicted. "At WorldTour level, that is always something different. That is going to be the most difficult thing for him."

To manage his development, the team has created a schedule that balances racing with training. After the classics, Widar will build towards the Tour de Suisse and San Sebastián, with his Grand Tour debut scheduled for later in the year. "They are not going to send him to the Tour yet. It will be the Vuelta," Pauwels concluded. "Really step by step, that is the right way."