Jarno Widar reveals the two races where he "would like to shine the most" in his rookie WorldTour season
Cycling
The road season is underway. Yet many stars and rising talents have not officially debuted. In that latter group is Jarno Widar, who in 2026 will be central to the new project created by the Lotto and Intermarché merger. A rapid leap to the WorldTour for the European U23 road champion.
During the Lotto-Intermarché press day in Temse, Wielerflits had the chance to interview Widar. At 20, he approaches his first full elite season with a measured, grounded outlook.
Widar will turn professional in a month and already has marquee targets on his calendar, including Strade Bianche, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Vuelta a España. Despite the scale of those appointments, the Belgian is careful not to get carried away.
The youngster admits he is surprised by the buzz around him after two successful seasons in the U23 ranks. His standout results include the Giro Next Gen, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the European road title, and wins over Frenchman Paul Seixas at the Tour de l’Avenir.
Widar is unequivocal when assessing that recent past: "U23 races last at most a week, and you can’t draw conclusions from that. Everything I did before doesn’t count now. With the pros, I feel like I’m starting from zero."
Jarno Widar will debut in the WorldTour as a Lotto-Intermarché prospect
The Belgian also distanced himself from the tag of future national hope for Grand Tours, a label he says he has often seen in the media.
"That’s what people expect if you read the papers, but I don’t write the articles," he says in the interview. His affinities lie closer to the Ardennes. "La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège are the races I enjoy most and where I’d like to shine, though I don’t know if I’ll ever get there."
Asked about goals for his first pro season, Widar remains restrained: "I don’t expect much. I want to give my best and finish the season healthy. That’s the most important thing. If I can put together a good rookie year, we’ll see after that."
Caution also runs through the message from Lotto-Intermarché. The team, he says, has expectations, but doesn’t spell them out. "As professionals, we’re paid and that implies responsibility. I have personal objectives too, but I’d rather not share them yet," he notes.
His demanding schedule, with a strong WorldTour presence, is a deliberate choice. "I turned pro for a reason. If I had wanted to race 1.1 events for another year, I would have stayed with the development team," he explains.
Vuelta a España the major target
Another key moment in his season will be his Grand Tour debut. Widar details that after the spring he will take a break before his first altitude camp in May. In June he will race the Tour de Suisse, followed by another altitude block in July. Then come the Vuelta a Burgos and Clásica San Sebastián before, if all goes well, the Vuelta a España.
Despite his prudence, the excitement is clear. As Widar sums it up: "It’s a childhood dream come true. Few people can say they’re living what they dreamed of as kids. Everything that comes now is a bonus."
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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