Two monuments and grand tour for Jarno Widar in rookie pro year

It's no surprise anymore, but today during its media day, Lotto-Intermarché shared Jarno Widar's definitive race program with the public. The 20-year-old climber will, as expected, participate in the Vuelta a España in his debut year as a pro. He will also race two Monuments: Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Giro di Lombardia.

Widar moves with impressive credentials from Lotto’s development team to the merged Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty squad. The new Belgian climbing sensation has scored numerous major wins over the past two seasons in the U23 category.

He claimed victory in the Giro d’Italia Next Gen (2024), Alpes Isère Tour (2024), Ronde de l’Isard (2025), Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 (2025), two stages in the Tour de l’Avenir (2025), and twice the Giro della Valle d’Aosta-Mont Blanc (2024 and 2025). Moreover, Widar was crowned European U23 champion at the beginning of October.

Widar naturally hopes to continue his great form with the pros and can look forward to a prestigious race calendar in his first year. He kicks off his cycling season in Portugal at the Figueira Champions Classic, followed by the always tough French double-header Faun-Ardèche Classic and Faun Drôme Classic.

Walloon classics, Vuelta and Lombardia
We will also see Widar racing in the Trofeo Laigueglia and Strade Bianche, which will be the first WorldTour race of his still young career. After that, the climber will focus on the Tour of the Basque Country, the Walloon classics – including the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège – and Eschborn-Frankfurt.

The details of his further 2026 program are not yet known, but it is certain that he will complete his first Grand Tour in the autumn with the Vuelta a España. The Giro di Lombardia is also on his itinerary.