Jarno Widar wants to win everything there is in under-23 category before turning pro: "I really want to score at the World Championships in Rwanda"
Cycling
Jarno Widar is one of the most polished gems of Belgian cycling. The 19-year-old climber already managed to win the Baby Giro and Valle d'Aosta in his first year out of juniors and his goals for 2025 are to add Tour de l'Avenir and World title to his palmares before turning professional.
It was after his failure at Tour de l'Avenir that it seemed like he might part ways with Lotto, but the two parties were able to settle their beef and pen a new deal that'll see Widar riding with Lotto until 2027. Did he ever consider other offers? "No, actually, when the new contract was finalized, I signed immediately. I'm here and I'm happy here," he tells In de Leiderstrui during Lotto press day.
"I mainly wanted to stay because of the confidence the team has in me. We were able to draw up a very nice plan for the future. Together with my new coach, I will also do altitude training for the first time this season. I didn't do that last year. I have the feeling that I can make a big step here," says Widar.
"We talked about turning pro this season. I personally wanted to do it too, but the U23 World Championship rule, where pros are not allowed to participate, made it a difficult choice. I absolutely wanted to ride the World Championship in Rwanda, so that was the decision. That is the main goal of my season, I really want to score there. I work every day to be at my best there. In 2026 I will definitely turn pro," he declares.
Confidence
To some he may seem a bit arrogant, but the pocket climber is simply not cut out for losing. "I try to believe in myself as much as possible," says Widar.
"I didn't expect that I would win so much right away as a first-year promise, but I try to work towards a goal every day. You have to believe in it every day. That is perhaps step one of the process. If it is not right in your head, then you cannot achieve much. Because self-confidence gives you so much strength that you become even stronger than you are."
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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- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
- Thibau Nys does exactly what Iserbyt is calling for
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - i did not see it. was the relegation justified or an overly hard decision? and don‘t cross riders deviate from straight lines all the time? bumping into each others when they cut corners, etc … why being more strict with the rules on the finish sprint?Ketterechts08-11-2026
- seems like we are advertising the website with pointless comments…Ketterechts08-11-2026
- So?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- The UCI do have their favorites.
Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- People see what they want to. I am actually the opposite of your accusation, probably more of a rebel than most of you who don’t get the big picture. The difference is, I don’t go moaning publicly about the consequences of my transgressions, I understand the need for rules and I take my OWN responsibility when deciding to ignore or break them or doing so involuntarily. I will also not hesitate to state my case or argue vehemently when relevant, sometimes it works, sometimes it makes things worse but that’s the price to pay for principles and having character.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- That may be but that was unknown to others and nothing says that’s the whole truth. Again, don’t try to misinterpret, it is a call and technically it is correct. Besides, even if there is a valid reason, that does not disqualify the ruling or punishment as far as the rules have been developed. I don’t think they’re as far as in football where for handball there is a distinction (in some ways and specific cases) between intentional or not. And football can be just as harsh and people live with it, eg the offside rule, also judged to within tiny fractions but often wrong or ignored. It’s the nature of every collective organisation and sometimes I wonder if our rebellion against it isn’t seated in the feelings we carry from the injustices we’ve felt personally, like being flashed driving 1km/h too fast when we are explained limits are just a security measure but we are absolutely certain not to have endangered anyone with our transgression. The problem is, nobody has better solutions and no 2 people have the same interpretation of where a limit should be.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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