"The extra year has been a positive thing for me": Giro U23 champion Lorenzo Finn intends to catch up to Seixas next year

Paul Seixas and Albert Withen Philipsen have both made a convincing leap straight to WorldTour from the junior category, in particular the Frenchman who, just 18 months into his professional career is already viewed as a serious Tour de France podium contender. And yet, both of them were defeated with a difference of class by another rider at the 2024 junior World Championships - Lorenzo Finn.

Unlike his peers, the still 19-year-old is yet to make his professional, however his talent has anything but disappeared. In the under-23 category, Finn has claimed eight victories, including world title in Kigali and most recently the Giro Next Gen.

The race saw plenty chaos, but the young Italian's legs did dictate the law in the mountains, winning a summit finish in Monte Livata with a difference of a class. And to wrap things up, Finn triumphed in the final hilly time trial in pink jersey to underline his dominance.

"It was a perfect race," Finn told bici.pro, "with the last three stages proving decisive, as we initially thought. I tried to get there as fresh as possible, but it wasn't just my race; we had so many things to be happy about. Davide (Donati, ed.)'s stage victory, who also wore the pink jersey, gave us a lot of morale. Then, in the first mountain stage, I felt good and I attacked; everything really went perfectly."

When we saw what Seixas and Withen Philipsen can do against pros as fresh junior graduates, the question arose whether Finn did not waste his talent racing with Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe's development team for two full seasons before taking the step up.

But Finn is confident that time to adapt will be crucial to his future. "I think being an extra year has been a positive thing for me," he says.

"With the devo team, I've had the opportunity to gain important experience with the pros in smaller races. Every race has been a stepping stone that's brought me here, and I still believe that winning helps you win. The crash at the Tour of the Alps wasn't what I needed; a broken bone and the resulting operation are still delicate moments to deal with. I've had similar injuries in previous years, too, and the experience has helped me better manage a similar setback."

Back in 2024, to pen a two-year deal in Red Bull's dev team was a rational choice. But now, two years later, there's no more hiding as WorldTour awaits Finn's arrival. For the young climber, it'll be a brand new experience - but one he looks forward to.

"I don't know how we'll handle next year yet," Finn says, "but I definitely made a big leap forward last year, and I hope, like every year, to improve further. We'll see how it goes. I've already competed with the pros, but the WorldTour calendar will certainly be different, but I'm confident in my growth path.

"Being on this team since I was a junior is a positive thing. I feel good, and it's a feeling that goes beyond the results but also involves the staff and everything that goes into it. I never thought about turning pro with other teams," he concludes.