These talents from the Netherlands, Belgium — but also Italy and Brazil — are ones to watch at the 2026 Giro Next Gen

On paper, the first half of the race looks mainly suited to opportunists, while the general classification should be decided in the second part. That is partly because of stages with uphill finishes at Monte Livata and Piana delle Mele, as well as a 22-kilometre individual time trial where differences can be made.

After eight days of racing, we will know who succeeds Slovenian rider Jakub Omrzel, now racing for Bahrain Victorious. In the years before him, victory went successively to Jarno Widar (now Lotto-Intermarché), Johannes Staune-Mittet (Decathlon CMA CGM), Leo Hayter (Modern Adventure), and the well-known Tom Pidcock and Juan Ayuso. Who will add their name to that list this year?

The top favourite is Lorenzo Finn of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe. The 19-year-old Italian became junior world champion in 2024 and simply repeated that trick last year in the under-23 ranks. Last season, he also finished sixth in the Giro Next Gen and fourth in the Tour de l’Avenir. He is, however, returning from a wrist fracture suffered at the Tour of the Alps.

“The Giro Next Gen is a special race, and starting here in the rainbow jersey means a lot to me. After the Tour of the Alps, the recovery went very well – the doctors and the team did a really great job of getting me back on the bike. The legs feel good again and I can’t wait to race. We have a strong team and a clear goal,” said Finn.

That strong team also includes fast Italian sprinter Davide Donati, as well as Dutchman Gijs Schoonvelde. The 19-year-old Schoonvelde had a strong season among the juniors last year, but has not yet enjoyed a top year in terms of results this season. Still, in the Giro Next Gen he will be an important support rider for Finn.

The man of the season so far is Matisse Van Kerckhove of Visma | Lease a Bike. The Spanish-born Belgian also rode this race last year in service of Jørgen Nordhagen, but this season the train has fully left the station: the 19-year-old Belgian has already won eight times, including all three stage races he has ridden as an under-23 rider.

With Patryk Goszczurny, Sven Mernik, Aldo Taillieu, Elliot Rowe and William Smith as teammates, the Belgian believes the team can aim high. “I think we can certainly dream of a stage win and a good GC. In principle, every one of us could win a stage. We don’t have a clear leader like last year, but across the board we have a very good team.”

“We don’t want to let opportunities slip away and we are aiming for at least one stage win,” sports director Robby Cobbaerts said. “Towards the second part of the Giro, we will see where we stand in the general classification. That is not something we will be focused on from day one.” Van Kerckhove himself added: “I dare say I am completely ready for it. The form is there, the desire is there. That is the most important thing.”

Another rider with serious credentials is 20-year-old Brazilian Henrique Bravo of Soudal Quick-Step. This season, he already took a professional victory at the Tour du Rwanda, but he also managed to win the Tour of Antalya and, more recently, the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt. Now he is targeting the general classification at the Giro Next Gen.

“I feel very good. We have a really strong team and we’re all excited for the Giro. We have several riders who have already shown good form and taken strong results this season, so I think we can be competitive throughout the race,” said Bravo, who will have strong Belgians Jasper Schoofs and Viktor Soenens — already tenth this season at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana — by his side.

“I’ve never raced the Giro Next Gen before and I didn’t race the Tour de l’Avenir last year either, so this will be my first experience of one of the biggest Under-23 stage races. I’m excited to see my level against the best riders,” concluded the 51-kilogram rider from South America.

Belgium can prepare for a fine week of racing in Italy, because an enormous number of strong riders from our southern neighbours will be at the start. Among them is Niels Driesen, already fifteenth this year in the Tour of Oman and recently winner of the Tour de l’Isard, as well as Kamiel Eeman, winner of the Course de la Paix: the GC riders of Lotto-Intermarché, a team that has been developing strong riders for years.

“There is no bigger stage race for the under-23 riders than the Giro Next Gen. The World Championships as a one-day race and the Tour de l’Avenir are obviously also important appointments, but in terms of stage races, this Giro is right at the top. All the top teams are present and everyone comes to the start with a particularly strong selection,” said sports director Wesley Van Speybroeck.

“Anyone who performs well here is quickly noticed. Everyone starts in top shape and wants to show themselves. For some riders, this is even a week in which they can earn a professional contract. That is exactly what makes this race so interesting. You never know exactly where you stand beforehand. Only when the race really explodes in the mountains do you discover how far you can go,” the sporting director stated.

From a Dutch perspective, Jurgen Zomermaand is one of the cards to play. He shares leadership at Picnic PostNL with Belgian Matteo Vanhuffel, sports director Albert Timmer explained. “The Giro d’Italia Next Gen is one of the highlights of the U23 calendar and a race we are looking forward to. After finishing in the top ten of the final classification with Matteo last year, we return with ambition and with a group that has shown strong form in recent weeks.”

“Matteo and Jurgen are our main cards for the general classification, after they impressed at the Alpes Isère Tour with third and seventh place overall respectively. Throughout the race, we want to race actively, seize opportunities when they arise and continue to develop as a team in this prestigious stage race.”

The 20-year-old Frisian Zomermaand already finished fifth this season in the Tour du Rwanda. Last season, he placed seventh at the European Championships for under-23 riders. The 19-year-old Vanhuffel finished seventh in that same Tour du Rwanda and recently shared the podium with compatriot Driesen at the Tour de l’Isard.

With Daan Dijkman, there is certainly another talented Dutch rider on the start list. The rider from Groningen won Liège-Bastogne-Liège for under-23 riders this season and prepared well for the Giro Next Gen at altitude. Dijkman, still only 18, was eighth at the junior World Championships last year and fifth at the European Championships a week later.

At his team UAE Emirates-XRG, Matteo Ramirez is another rider to keep an eye on. The 20-year-old climber from Ecuador has not raced yet this season, but last year he finished sixth in the Tour de l’Avenir and second in the Giro Valle d’Aosta.

In France, much of the talk is about Paul Seixas, but in his shadow Decathlon CMA CGM also has riders such as Leo Bisiaux and Aubin Sparfel. The latter already managed to take his first professional victory at just 18 years old last year in the Tour du Finistère, and this season he has also shown himself with sixth place in the Boucles de la Mayenne and victory in the Tour de Bretagne.

Sparfel, who will make the definitive step up to the French WorldTour team next year, is not a pure climber, but in the transition stages he may well be the man to watch. For the heavier work, his team also has Rémi Arsac.

In addition to the highlighted names, there are plenty more serious contenders taking part in the Giro Next Gen, which can be followed daily via HBO Max. Finland’s Kasper Borremans (Bahrain Victorious) is a dangerous customer, given his recent third place in Austria. XDS-Astana has a balanced team with, among others, Matteo Scalco and Alessio dello Vedove.

The same applies to Lidl-Trek, which brings Liam O’Brien, Jack Ward and Belgian Thor Michielsen. Other WorldTour teams such as Netcompany INEOS (Cameron Rogers, Nicolas Milesi and Dylan Sage), Groupama-FDJ (Victor Loulerge and Baptiste Gregoire), Hagens Berman Jayco (Adam Rafferty and Ben Wiggins), EF, Movistar and NSN are also present, as is the Italian national selection with Stefano Viezzi among others, plus several Italian teams.