"Will he become a new Vingegaard or Pogacar? No one can predict that" but Lotto Dstny have big hopes for Jarno Widar

It's been a long wait for a Belgian Tour de France winner. Remco Evenepoel would seemingly be the most likely name to end that wait of the current crop, but looking forward, Lotto Dstny have big ambitions for teenage climbing sensation Jarno Widar.

"His power output is very good," analyses Widar's agent, Yannick Prévost in conversation with Het Laatste Nieuws. "You always have to speak with a certain caution, because the road is still long, but his figures are very good. We are undoubtedly dealing with a physical top talent."

A Giro Next Gen winner, Widar failed to truly impress at the Tour de l'Avenir earlier this summer, but that hasn't dampened any expectations for the Belgian super talent. One of the areas in which improvement is needed though, is one the descents. "Jarno can still gain on all those things," admits Prevost. "At his age, it is very normal that things still have to evolve."

"The next two or three years he has to concentrate on week-long stage races. Intrinsically, he has the qualities for the top, and he dreams of winning grand tours, but will he become a new Vingegaard or Pogacar? No one can predict that," concludes the 18-year-old's agent, insisting that a return the Tour de l'Avenir in 2025 and putting in a stronger performance is now the big goal. "Because that race was a main goal, he got it into his head that he failed there, but that is not the case. His season was already successful."