Lessons from Giro Next Gen

You can’t train your luck. You can work on power, strategy or pain tolerance. You can minimize risks. But one unexpected moment, a wrong angle, a crash, can undo weeks of preparation in a single second.

The Lotto Development Team’s performance in the Giro Next Gen, led by Jarno Widar, was spectacular. His victory on the queen stage and his brilliant racing style made us envision a bright pink-painted Orca crossing the finish line in Pinerolo. However, a crash in stage seven forced him to abandon. It wasn’t about form or preparation. It was simply chance.

At Orbea, we’ve spent many years focused on educating young cyclists. Supporting projects like the Lotto Development Team is not about racking up victories. It’s about being committed to the whole process: talent matters, but never more than character. Growing as a cyclist means learning how to win, but also how to lose. It means moving from euphoria to the silence of withdrawal without losing focus.

At just 19, Jarno experienced it all in this edition of the Giro Next Gen. He won confidently on the Passo del Maniva, dressed in pink and handled the pressure with the calm of someone destined for a great future. And then, he had to accept an unexpected withdrawal, just when he was closest to winning his second Giro Next Gen.

Yet, the coin always has two sides. Our men’s pro team gave us great moments at Baloise Belgium Tour. With a solo win in Durbuy, Jenno Berckmoes secured a stage victory that lifted him onto the third step of the Belgian tour’s podium, where Alec Segaert also claimed the best young rider jersey.

“This week really was one with ups and downs,” said Jenno. “I surprisingly became third in the second stage, […]. After that, the time trial came in which I was quite disappointed. But then the in Durbuy and this third place in the GC to end the Baloise Belgium Tour.”

That’s why, to handle these moments and embrace the powerful lessons they bring, you need a team that not only believes in your talent but stands by your side whether you’re on top or learning from failing.

Backing the future of cycling isn’t just about training young men and women to become winners. It’s about building tomorrow’s peloton filled with humble, generous cyclists, true champions in every aspect of life. That’s where the role of teams like Lotto and Orbea’s commitment make all the difference.