"I’ll get to do some races with the World Tour squad" - Lorenzo Finn already planning 2026 step up with Red Bull - BORA after stunning U23 world title in Kigali

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe’s 18-year-old sensation Lorenzo Finn has added another rainbow jersey to his collection, storming to a solo victory in the U23 men’s road race at the 2025 UCI World Championships in Kigali on Friday. Just over a year after claiming the junior world title in Zurich, the Italian prodigy proved he's no one-season wonder.

“It’s unreal,” Finn said at the finish in conversation with Cycling Pro Net, beaming under the Rwandan sun. “This is the biggest race you can win in the category — and to do it again, it’s just amazing.”

A relentless race of attrition on Kigali’s punishing circuit saw favourites crumble and heat-stricken riders abandon in waves. But Finn rode with a tactical maturity beyond his years. While Belgium’s early control kept the peloton in check, it was Finn’s explosive decision-making in the final third of the race that set him apart. “I saw there was no Jarno Widar in our group after the cobbled section, and I knew we had a real chance,” Finn said. “I went with the Swiss guy — Jan Huber — and told him to work, that he could get a medal. He did his bit. Then I just went solo to the line.”

That final move came with just under 7km to go, when Finn launched a decisive attack to drop Huber after a tense partnership at the front. From there, the Italian time trialed to victory, lifting his arms in triumph with the streets of Kigali erupting around him.

The heat, the altitude, the pressure — none of it shook Finn. “It was a hot day, and I’m feeling the legs now,” he admitted afterward. “But I knew I had to be smart. It was better to wait and go with someone rather than too early alone. Then you try something in the last 5–10k. That’s what worked.”

Still only a first-year U23, Finn’s composed dominance has only heightened anticipation around his future. While he's expected to remain primarily with Red Bull - BORA’s development team in 2026, the rainbow jersey will be hard to miss in bigger races.

“I’ll stay with the rookies, but I’ll get to do some races with the World Tour squad,” he confirmed. “When you’ve got this jersey, you’ve got to show it. You might never wear it again.”

Finn also revealed a Sheffield connection — his father hails from the northern English city — coincidentally the same hometown as Harry Hudson, who took gold in the junior men’s road race earlier the same day. “Yorkshire on top today, I guess,” Finn laughed. “I didn’t know he was from Sheffield too. That’s pretty cool.”

With the European Championships looming on the horizon, the celebration will be short-lived — but deserved. After an injury-hit start to the season that included a broken collarbone, Finn’s resurgence couldn’t be more emphatic. “All the hard work — it pays off,” he said. “This doesn’t happen often, so I’ll enjoy it. And then we go again.”