Jarno Widar stays humble before first pro year: "Who says I will be a stage racer?"
A conversation with Jarno Widar is always full of down-to-earth honesty, and it was no different at the Lotto-Intermarché press day in Temse. The 20-year-old top talent will start his first full season as a pro in a month, with big races like Strade Bianche, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Vuelta already on the schedule. On one hand, he does set goals for himself, but Widar is careful not to rush things.
When a Belgian rider performs above average in the youth categories, it often comes with sky-high expectations when stepping up to the pros. That’s no different for Widar after two extremely successful U23 years. The Giro Next Gen, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the European Road Championship are on his palmarès, but perhaps the biggest impression he made was by beating French golden boy Paul Seixas twice during the Tour de l'Avenir.
“But honestly, I don’t understand why everyone expects so much from me right now,” Widar told our website. “U23 races last a maximum of a week; you can’t draw conclusions from that. This year I’m starting a completely new chapter in my career as a pro. Everything I achieved as a U23 means nothing now. To me, it feels like I’m starting at zero again as a pro.”
He also quickly dismisses the notion that he is Belgium’s hope for the Grand Tours. “That’s what everyone expects from me if you read the newspapers a bit. Of course, I don’t write the articles. But you should know I much prefer the Ardennes Classics. The Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège are the races where I would like to excel and that I really enjoy. But I don’t know if that will ever happen.”
What do you expect from your first year as a pro?
“To be honest, not too much. I’m going to try my best and aim to get through the season safely. That’s the most important thing. In short, I hope I can have a good season as a neo-pro, and then we’ll see how it goes. Right now, everything is going smoothly. I’m very happy with how the winter went, so we’ll see what that brings in a few weeks.”
We hear the same cautious tone from the Lotto-Intermarché team management. Do they communicate this patient approach to you as well?
“I think they definitely have certain expectations of me somewhere in the back of their minds. But they don’t say it out loud to me. We get paid as pro riders, which naturally comes with certain expectations. But I also always have personal goals in my head. Otherwise, life feels pointless. Only, I prefer not to reveal those goals yet.”
Your schedule with lots of WorldTour races is quite challenging. Did you consciously push for that?
“I became a pro rider for a reason. If I wanted to ride 1.1 races for another year, I might as well have stayed another year with the Development Team.”
According to Lennert Van Eetvelt, you elevate him and the team by focusing a lot on details. How does that work?
“Lennert and I are both ‘weight weenies’ (riders extremely focused on minimizing their bike weight, ed.). We really push hard for the details. Now that we are two climbers, that goes a lot faster. That’s very important for me. I think Lennert and I make a great team.”
You don’t see him as a rival?
“Not at all. I did a lot of training rides with Lennert at training camp. We try to help each other. That’s our goal, even when we race together. If he feels weaker, he will work for me. And if I feel weaker, I’ll do it for him. You can’t be selfish as a rider, but always honest. Only then can you aim for the best result for the team.”
Will it take some getting used to to take on a leadership role in the pro team?
“Not necessarily. As an U23, in a different chapter of my career, the roles within the team were always clear. I knew what to say to my teammates and could give them the right guidance. That should be possible now as well.”
The Vuelta will be your first Grand Tour. How will you prepare for that?
“After the spring season, I’ll take a short break, then there’s a first altitude training camp in May. In June comes the Tour de Suisse, then I’ll head back to altitude training in July. Via the Tour of Burgos and the Clasica San Sebastian, I’ll then go to the Vuelta if everything goes well.”
How excited are you?
“Very much. My big dream is coming true now. What I used to dream about as a little boy is happening now that I’m stepping up to the pros. It’s a childhood dream come true. Not many people can say that. What comes now is extra. Nothing is required anymore.”
