Tour de l'Avenir winner Finn set for elite World Championships debut

After winning the Tour de l’Avenir earlier this week, Lorenzo Finn is set to take on the elites at the upcoming World and European Championships.

Finn won Wednesday’s seventh and final stage at Lago Serrù, his second of the week, to become the first Italian winner of the prestigious under-23 stage race since Gianbattista Baronchelli. 

His final winning margin was 2:34 over Belgian Niels Driesen, who officially signed for Pinarello-Q36.5 on Thursday. Finn's commanding success adds to his victory at the Giro d'Italia Next Gen in June, rounding out a successful under-23 campaign. 

“I couldn’t have asked for a better finish to this Tour de l’Avenir. I am incredibly grateful to the team. We gave it our all for the stage win today. The final climb was very tough, and I’m super happy I was able to complete it,” Finn said.

The 19-year-old will now turn his attention to racing against the world's best. Ciro Scognamiglioreported on August 21 that sources had confirmed Finn will compete in the road race at both the World Championships and European Championships at elite level this year.

The World Championships will take place in Montréal, Canada, with the elite men's road race on September 27. The European Championships will then be held in Slovenia, with the elite men's road race scheduled for October 4.

It will be Finn’s first elite Worlds. He won the junior world title in Zürich in 2024 before taking the under-23 rainbow jersey in Kigali in 2025. No rider has completed the set of winning the road race in the junior, under-23 and elite categories.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe are assessing whether Finn is ready to race the elite World Championships, with team director Sven Vanthourenhout praising his physical metrics while stressing that the 19-year-old still has steps to take.

“He is one of the best riders of his generation. He is a highly talented rider whom we support, but he is also still part of the development team,” Vanthourenhout told Sporza.

On the possibility of Finn racing the elite World Championships in Montréal, Vanthourenhout said: “I know there are a few options on the table.”

"The performance team needs to assess whether that is a good decision or if it might be too soon. There are people within the team who are monitoring that.”