Lorenzo Finn conquers the Tour de l'Avenir!

A monumental, indisputable triumph that rewrites the history of Italian youth cycling. Lorenzo Mark Finn has won the 2026 Tour de l'Avenir!

The nineteen-year-old Ligurian, former Under-23 World Champion and recent winner of the Giro Next Gen, capped off a dream summer by dominating the French stage race, widely considered the Tour de France for young riders. This success ends a very long drought for the Azzurri: Italy hadn't won the overall classification of the Avenir since 1973, when Gianbattista Baronchelli triumphed.

Already firmly in control of the yellow jersey after securing the lead in the Flaine time trial and cementing his position on the Col de l'Iseran, Finn didn't just manage his advantage on the final stage. In the seventh and final stage—127.8 kilometers from Strambino to the 2,275-meter Ceresole Reale-Lago Serrù—the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Rookies rider once again demonstrated his absolute superiority. Along the final ramps leading to the Colle del Nivolet, the Italian launched the decisive attack, creating a gap behind him. Finn crossed the finish line alone with his arms raised, 27" ahead of Belgian Niels Driesen (Lotto - Groupe Wanty) and 28" ahead of Colombian Mateo Ramírez (UAE Team Emirates Gen Z).

A week of absolute dominance: Finn's masterpiece began to take shape during the fifth stage, the grueling Les Carroz–Flaine time trial, where the Italian rider literally pulverized the competition, inflicting massive gaps on all his direct rivals. From that moment on, he handled the Alpine climbs with the maturity of a veteran. In addition to the overall classification, the Ligurian also took home the jerseys for best climber and best young rider, certifying his all-round dominance.

With his historic Giro Next Gen and Tour de l'Avenir double in the same year, along with the rainbow jersey he wears, Lorenzo Finn officially launches himself into the elite cycling scene. Italy has finally found its man for the major stage races of the future. His crystal-clear class, fearsome climbing ability, and a cannibalistic hunger have given the entire Italian cycling movement the confidence to dream big.