“Some say he’s ‘the next Vincenzo Nibali’. But I always reply: he’s the first Lorenzo Finn” – Red Bull hope to guide Italy’s next big thing to Grand Tour glory

Lorenzo Finn has barely completed his first season in the U23 ranks, but already, the hype in Italy is loud. The 18-year-old's Rainbow Jersey — won at the U23 World Championships just 12 months after claiming the junior title — has inevitably fuelled comparisons with the greats. Some are calling him “the next Vincenzo Nibali”.

But inside Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, where Finn is being carefully nurtured, there’s a clear message: he doesn’t need to be the next anyone. He just needs to be Lorenzo Finn.

“No, I don’t buy into those comparisons,” says performance director John Wakefield, who also coaches Finn personally, in conversation with Bici.Pro. “Someone said to me that he’s the next Nibali. But I always reply: he’s the first Lorenzo Finn, not the second Nibali.”

Finn’s rise has been rapid but deliberately controlled. After winning the junior rainbow jersey in 2024, he stepped up to the U23 category this season and become just the fifth rider ever (alongside Greg LeMond, Remco Evenepoel, Mathieu van der Poel and Matej Mohoric), to achieve the rare feat of back-to-back world titles in different age categories. His team saw the potential long before the wider world took notice.

Wakefield first began working with Finn at the end of 2021. “He was very young, very respectful, calm,” he recalls. “When I looked at his numbers, there was something special there. But what struck me most was his tactical awareness. He raced like someone older, more experienced — already like a professional.”

That maturity has translated seamlessly to every new level. “Even as a junior, he adapted incredibly fast. And when he moved up to U23, it was like he’d already been there for two or three seasons,” Wakefield explains. “He’s burned through the stages of development at speed. That’s why what he’s done this year hasn’t really surprised us.”

The defining moment of Finn’s debut U23 campaign may not have been his World Championship win, but the Giro Next Gen. Initially tipped as one of the team’s GC riders, he changed course mid-race to help teammate Luke Tuckwell defend the pink jersey.

“Of course, we wanted a GC result with him,” Wakefield says. “But when Luke took pink, Lorenzo switched roles instantly, supporting him in every way possible. For me, that was the sign of real maturity. So yes, I was very happy with his Giro Next Gen.”

That adaptability has carried over to his early experiences racing with the WorldTour squad. Far from being intimidated, Finn impressed senior teammates. “The feedback was fantastic,” Wakefield reveals. “He moved through the peloton brilliantly — always in the right place at the right time, doing exactly what was needed, whether that was pulling on the front, fetching bottles, or racing aggressively like at Worlds.”

Despite the buzz surrounding him, Finn won’t be thrown head-first into the WorldTour in 2026. Instead, he’ll remain in the development team for another season while racing select events with the senior squad.

“Yes, he definitely needs another year in U23,” Wakefield insists. “It’s a good environment for him. He can grow in a controlled way. The Giro Next Gen and the Tour de l’Avenir will be major objectives next year. But there are also things he needs to develop off the bike — he’s just finished school, he still lives at home. Moving a young rider into the WorldTour has to be gradual.”

It’s a measured approach designed to avoid the pitfalls that have derailed other prodigies too early in their careers. “He’s a winner — he always wants results,” Wakefield says. “But we’re not just chasing short-term success. Every race he does is a test that helps us track his progression. Even if something doesn’t go to plan, we learn from it.”

The excitement in Italy is understandable. A genuine Grand Tour contender hasn’t emerged from the country since Nibali. Finn, with his tactical nous, climbing ability and versatility, represents hope. But hope can quickly become pressure.

“Yes, the pressure is real,” Wakefield acknowledges. “The key is how we, as a team, help him manage it — and how he handles it himself. It’s fantastic that the country is passionate. But all that weight on one young rider can have a negative impact if things don’t go perfectly. Fans need to support him without suffocating him with expectation.”

If there’s a modern parallel, Wakefield admits it’s easy to see why Nibali’s name keeps coming up. “In modern cycling, just being a GC rider isn’t enough,” he says. “You need to be versatile. Nibali was — he won one-day races, week-long stage races, Grand Tours. That’s the kind of profile Lorenzo could follow. But he’ll do it in his own way.”

Finn’s first year in U23 ended with three wins and six additional podiums. It’s the kind of record that fuels national dreams — and in Red Bull’s hands, the kind of talent that can be developed patiently and properly.