"I have nothing to lose anyway, I can only win" - Talented climber Jarno Widar relaxed ahead of U23 Worlds
Cycling
After the juniors, it'll be time for U23s to take their chances at the challenging circuit in Zurich. Among the biggest names at the start is Jarno Widar. The 18-year-old has been a hot prospect on the transfer market recently after his statements undermining his employer Lotto Dstny. But eventually, things calmed down a bit and thus we head for the Worlds with only one thing on mind - to see a great race,
The GC talent puts himself under no pressure at the U23 World Championship. "I am living very relaxed towards this," he says at Sporza. "Everything extra is a bonus. I have nothing to lose anyway, I can only win. If I lose, the world just goes on. Then I get up the next day and just focus on other goals."
The fact that there has been no Belgian U23 winner at the World Championship since Eddy Merckx does not worry Widar either. "That is because Remco Evenepoel skipped a category, right?", he remains calm about it. "Otherwise it would have happened already."
"I think the race will be very gruelling. We will only be able to say after the race whether it was not tough enough. Who knows, I might get knocked out and then everyone will say it was tough enough."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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