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Lorenzo Finn seals overall victory at the Tour de l'Avenir
With a commanding win on the final stage, Finn underlined his overall success. For the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies, it is a first-ever victory at the Tour de l'Avenir.
Lorenzo Finn has won the 62nd Tour de l'Avenir. After taking the mountain time trial on Monday, the 19-year-old Italian of the Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies also came out on top at the final summit finish at Lago Serrù. Victory on the seventh and final stage confirmed his overall lead and secured the yellow jersey at what is widely regarded as the Tour de France of U23 racing. Alongside the general classification, Finn also claimed the mountains and the young rider classification.
Alongside the Giro Next Gen, the Tour de l’Avenir was my main goal this year, and I’ve won both. That makes me very proud.
The Tour de l'Avenir is the most important stage race in the U23 category – a roll of honour featuring Tadej Pogačar, Egan Bernal, Isaac del Toro and, most recently, Paul Seixas speaks for itself. This year the race opened its doors to the development squads of WorldTour teams for the first time, lining up alongside the national selections. And they shaped the race: all seven stages went to riders from development teams. For Lorenzo Finn, the win also means a piece of cycling history – he is the first rider since Gianbattista Baronchelli in 1973 to win both the Giro Next Gen, the U23 edition of the Giro d'Italia, and the Tour de l'Avenir in the same year.
Lorenzo Finn on the podium at the Tour de l'Avenir
© Twila Federica Muzzi
Finn left no room for doubt on the 130-kilometre final stage from Strambino to the summit finish at Lago Serrù. Having taken the yellow jersey with his stage five mountain time trial win, he was protected by a Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies squad that controlled the day, before Finn attacked two kilometres from the line and reached the finish at 2,275 metres of altitude 27 seconds clear of Niels Driesen (Belgium, Lotto – Groupe Wanty) and Mateo Ramírez (Ecuador, UAE Team Emirates Gen Z). In the general classification, Finn finished 2:34 minutes ahead of Driesen and 3:42 minutes ahead of Matteo Vanhuffel (Belgium, Development Team Picnic PostNL). It is Finn’s 11th win of the season and the 18th for the Rookies.
“I couldn't have finished this Tour de l'Avenir any better. I’m really grateful to the team. We went all in for the stage win today. The final climb was very hard and I’m super happy that I managed to finish it off. The fact that the race ended in Italy makes it even more special – on that last climb and all day long, there were so many people cheering me on. Together with the Giro Next Gen, the Tour de l’Avenir was my big goal this year, and I’ve won both. That makes me very proud,” said Finn at the finish.
“This is a very special achievement, not just for Lorenzo but also for us as a team, and I’m very proud of the whole squad.
Pello Olaberria, Sports Director on-site, highlighted the collective effort: “Winning in the yellow jersey is always something special. That was exactly the plan – and the team executed it perfectly today. Michiel Mouris and Davide Donati controlled the stage from the start and never let the day’s breakaway get too far up the road. After that, Noah Lindholm Møller Andersen and Paul Fietzke took over all the way into the final climb. They did an incredible job, and Lorenzo finished it off. This is a very special success not just for him, but for us as a team, and I'm very proud of the whole squad.”
Lorenzo Finn with his family and fans at the finish line.
© Twila Federica Muzzi
