Red Bull coach on Italy’s rising star: 'He’s not the next Nibali. He’s the first Lorenzo Finn'

Rather than pushing him too fast, the team prefers a steady path, allowing him to spend another year with their development squad before moving up full time. In a conversation with bici.pro, John Wakefield, Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe’s Head of Performance and Finn’s coach, explained why patience is key to nurturing the Italian’s talent.

“When I first met Lorenzo, maybe late 2021 or 2022, even before he joined the Grenke Auto Eder team, he struck me as a very calm, respectful kid,” Wakefield recalled. “When I looked at his numbers, it was clear there was something unique there. What impressed me most was his tactical awareness. Despite his age, he already raced like an experienced pro.”

That sense of maturity has been visible from the start. “Even as a junior, he handled every step naturally,” Wakefield said. “When he moved to the U23 category, it felt like he was already in his second or third year. His results don’t surprise me; he’s always been ahead of schedule.”

The same composure showed during the Giro Next Gen. “We wanted a result in the general classification, but when Luke Tuckwell took the pink jersey, Lorenzo immediately switched roles and supported him completely,” Wakefield explained. “That maturity was impressive. So yes, I was very happy with his Giro because he adapted to a new role faster than expected.”

Finn’s evolution is happening on several fronts. “He’s improved in every area,” Wakefield said. “His power numbers are higher, but what stands out most is his maturity. If you look at how he’s grown from last year to this one, it’s remarkable. Still, numbers don’t tell the full story.”

The plan for 2026 reflects that same long-term vision. “He still has room to grow,” Wakefield said. “He just finished school two months ago and still lives at home. Moving full time into the WorldTour has to be done step by step. There are still areas where he can improve as a professional, on and off the bike.”

Finn has already shown confidence when racing alongside the team’s top riders. “The feedback from our WorldTour riders was excellent,” said Wakefield. “He positions himself perfectly in the bunch and always does what’s asked, whether that’s pulling on the front, fetching bottles or racing aggressively like he did at Worlds.”

The next season will see Finn target the Giro Next Gen and the Tour de l’Avenir, while defending his world title. “He’s a winner, so he always wants results,” Wakefield said. “But even when things don’t go perfectly, we learn something. Every race helps us see if we’re on the right path.”

Red Bull’s growing presence in cycling reflects its distinctive philosophy focused on developing potential as the foundation for long-term success. From mountain biking to the WorldTour, the brand has applied its Formula 1 mindset to endurance sport, creating systems grounded in data, science and patience. In many ways, Finn has become the test case for that approach, a rider developed not for the next season but for the next decade.

In Italy, many already see Finn as the next great hope for the nation’s cycling revival, something Wakefield views with both pride and caution. “The pressure is real,” he admitted. “Some people call him the next Vincenzo Nibali, but I always say he’s the first Lorenzo Finn. Placing the hopes of an entire nation on one young rider can be dangerous. Fans should support him, but without expecting instant results.”

When asked for comparisons, Wakefield paused. “It’s difficult, because modern cycling demands versatility,” he said. “If I had to name someone, I’d say Nibali, because he could win everything: one-day races, week-long stage races, Grand Tours. Lorenzo has that same potential, a mix of talent, balance and professionalism.”

With three wins and six podiums in his first U23 season, Finn’s numbers already stand out. Yet Wakefield believes the real story lies beyond the results. “He’s learning the right way,” he said. “And that’s what will make the difference between a talented rider and a great one.”

For now, Finn’s journey is still being written, quietly, deliberately, with patience as its guiding principle. The spotlight will find him soon enough. But for Wakefield and Red Bull, the real victory will be when Lorenzo Finn arrives on cycling’s biggest stage entirely as himself.