U23
Lorenzo Finn claims stage victory and overall lead at the Tour de l'Avenir
Lorenzo Finn has won the fifth stage of the Tour de l’Avenir. The 19-year-old Italian from Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies has also taken the yellow jersey as the overall leader.
The yellow jersey carries a special meaning in cycling – nowhere more so than in France. That holds true for the Tour de l'Avenir as well, the most important stage race in the U23 category. Since Monday it belongs to Lorenzo Finn: the 19-year-old Italian of the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies produced a commanding ride to win the mountain time trial to Flaine and moved into the overall lead. With two stages left, Finn has taken a decisive step towards final victory.
Lorenzo Finn crossing the finish line
© Twila Federica Muzzi
On the 11.4-kilometre test from Les Carroz up to Flaine, which climbed the slopes of the Col de la Pierre Carrée at an average gradient of 6.4 per cent, the Italian stopped the clock at 25:47 and pushed Ugo Fabries (France, UAE Team Emirates Gen Z) into second place by 34 seconds. Third went to previous race leader Niels Driesen (Belgium, Lotto – Groupe Wanty), 58 seconds down. Ahead of the final two stages, Finn now leads Driesen by 58 seconds and Kasper Haugland (Norway, Decathlon CMA CGM Development Team) by 1:36 minutes. It is already Finn’s ninth win of the season and the 16th of the year for the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies.
I’m super happy to take my first stage win here. The Tour de l'Avenir is a really important race for me and for the team.
“Lorenzo was seriously fast today – even faster than we had expected. The climb suited him perfectly and he paced himself really well. We've got a solid buffer now, the next rider on GC is just under a minute back. For the coming days that means we’ll be fully focused on defending the yellow jersey,” said Sports Director Pello Olaberria.
Lorenzo was seriously fast today – even faster than we had expected. The climb suited him perfectly and he paced himself really well.
“Lorenzo was seriously fast today – even faster than we had expected. The climb suited him perfectly and he paced himself really well. We've got a solid buffer now, the next rider on GC is just under a minute back. For the coming days that means we’ll be fully focused on defending the yellow jersey,” said Sports Director Pello Olaberria.
Lorenzo Finn und Pello Olaberria im Ziel mit dem Gelben Trikot
© Twila Federica Muzzi
There is little time to catch a breath: Tuesday brings the queen stage over roughly 149 kilometres with 5,000 metres of elevation gain and a summit finish on the famous Col de l'Iseran. The Tour de l'Avenir concludes on Wednesday with another mountaintop finish at Lago Serro.
