“I was the one who suggested it”: Lorenzo Finn steps up to the Elite World Championships at 19

Lorenzo Finn has decided to race directly with the Elite at the upcoming World Championship in Montreal. The Italian, only 19 years old, could defend the Under-23 title he won last year, but he himself has requested the Italian team to compete in the higher category. He wants to know where his level truly stands after a season in which he won the Giro Next Gen and the Tour de l'Avenir.

Lorenzo Finn will race in the Elite World Championship in Montreal

Italy will take to Montreal one of the young cyclists who has accumulated the most results over the last two seasons. Lorenzo Finn will be at the start of the Elite race on September 27 and not in the Under-23 event, where he could have attempted to defend the rainbow jersey.

The decision did not come at the request of the selection. As Finn explained in the DNF podcast, it was he who raised the possibility. “I proposed it myself, they didn’t ask me. It’s a good test to see what level I’m at now compared to the professionals.”

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Finn had already hinted at his plans after winning the Tour de l'Avenir. In statements to DirectVelo, he then confirmed that after competing in some Italian classics, he would travel to the World Championship to race with the professionals. At 19 years old, he feels it is time to try something different.

“I have competed in the Under-23 category for two years. I have won everything that could be won. Now I want to experience what it is like to compete against the best riders, in the most important race of the year. It seemed like the right time,” he explained in DNF.

Two years winning almost everything before trying with the Elite

Finn was the Junior World Champion in 2024 and a year later won the Under-23 World Championship in Kigali. In 2026, he added the Giro Next Gen and the Tour de l'Avenir to his palmarès.

His performance in this last race also left some unusual data for a 19-year-old rider. A few weeks ago, we analyzed his numbers during the time trial of the Tour de l'Avenir on Brujulabike, where estimates placed his performance between 6.7 and 6.9 W/kg for about 25 minutes.

Now he will be able to see how far those numbers go when the reference is the best riders in the peloton. Finn has not set a specific result for Montreal either.

“Of course, I don’t expect to win, but I want to be there, experience everything, understand the differences, and take this unique experience home.”

The Italian has also made it clear that no one in his environment has pushed him to take this step. “It’s not something that has been imposed or suggested from the outside. I’m glad it has turned out this way in the end.”

Italy will take Finn along with Ciccone and Pellizzari

The Italian selection for the Elite men's race will consist of Giulio Ciccone, Giulio Pellizzari, Alberto Bettiol, Christian Scaroni, Davide Piganzoli, Mattia Cattaneo, Matteo Trentin, and Lorenzo Finn.

Finn will arrive without the responsibility he would have had in the Under-23 race and with two clear references within the selection like Ciccone and Pellizzari.