Italy's supertalent set to debut at elite World Championships at just 19 years of age

Cycling
Sunday, 23 August 2026 at 09:00
Lorenzo Finn at the 2026 Giro di Sardegna
The Italian cycling is not in its best spot historically. With no team in cycling's top division (although Astana and Bahrain have strong ties to Italy), and only Jonathan Milan and Filippo Ganna meeting the absolute standard of quality, the traditional GrandTour powerhouse nation is in a severe of a new face to surpass the legacy of Marco Pantani. And the one can create difference could very well be Lorenzo Finn.

Talent that rivals Paul Seixas

At only 19 years of age, the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Rookies rider seems to already be the complete package. Finn's proficiency in the mountains is without a doubt after he had dominated the general classification at both Giro d'Italia Next Gen and Sibiu Tour this year.
But that's not all, because Finn is capable in the Classics-style of racing with world titles from both junior and under-23 categories, can time trial (6th among elites at Italian Championships) and is not afraid of echelons as he put on display during Tour de l'Avenir's opening stage.
Lorenzo Finn in rainbow jersey at under-23 World Championships 2025 in Kigali
Lorenzo Finn in rainbow jersey at under-23 World Championships 2025 in Kigali
With all that in mind, there's no doubt that Finn is fully ready to make the jump to WorldTour in 2027 as he'll look to catch up to his junior rival Paul Seixas as soon as possible.

Time to step up is here

Before all that, Finn still has a little over a month racing to complete. That would normally include a defense of his rainbow jersey on the hilly circuit in Montreal.
But what use for that is there for the rider who has seemingly already grown out of the under-23 category? That's the question the Italian coaches must've been asking themselves too. Because according to Ciro Scognamiglio, while Finn will indeed travel to Canada, he would represent Italy in the elite category already!
Furthermore, Finn is part of the plans also for European Championships in Slovenia where he might find a course slightly more to his own liking with even steeper ascents.
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