World champion Lorenzo Finn succeeds Paul Seixas—a rider with whom he inevitably invites comparison. Above all, he embodies the future of Italian cycling, a sport currently lacking a top champion and without a Grand Tour winner since Vincenzo Nibali. Furthermore, it had been 53 years—since Gian-Battista Baronchelli—since an Italian last won the Tour de l’Avenir.
Lorenzo Finn wanted to add luster to his yellow jersey. Already dominant during the stage run as a mountain time trial, he ultimately triumphed—as expected, especially by the Italians—against the magnificent backdrop of Lago Serru in the heart of Gran Paradiso National Park.
The Italian rider from the Red Bull-Bora Rookies team rose above the rest of the field—a feat he had already foreshadowed during the opening stage in Normandy, where he instigated the initial major selection of riders. His mountain performance lived up to both his undeniable talent and the high expectations surrounding him. At nineteen years and eight months old, the rider from Genoa, Liguria, already boasts an impressive track record. To his world titles (Junior in 2024, followed by U23), he has added a significant double victory this year in the two premier reference stage races: the Giro U23 and the Tour de l’Avenir!
The final stage in Piedmont simply confirmed the final podium, where Lorenzo Mark Finn (his double first name highlights his English paternal heritage) was flanked by two Belgians: Niels Driesen (Lotto Intermarché) and Matteo Van Huffel (Picnic Post NL).
The Italian swept the board, claiming the LCL yellow jersey, the Alden King of the Mountains jersey, and the white jersey for the best young rider (sponsored by La Haute Tarentaise-Vanoise). The green jersey for the Suntec/Biofioul points classification went to another Italian, Thomas Capra (Bahrain Victorious Development).
The team classification was won by the Decathlon – CMA CGM squad.
