In this Giro Next Gen, all of Italy's eyes are on Lorenzo Mark Finn, the junior world champion who is attracting the hopes of the Italian cycling movement. It's a great push, but also a burden that necessarily must be carried on one's shoulders during all race days, after all the numbers he has already shown do not lie and only the cherry on top is missing. After the opening time trial, he was 8" and 9" behind Nordhagen and Philipsen respectively, while he gained 4" on Widar, his number one rival.

At the finish line in Cantù, he was one of the most attentive in the group, always in the front positions, he managed to perfectly move his team and keep the situation under control. "It was a very nervous stage", everyone wanted to be at the front at all costs. We didn't know if we would arrive in a sprint or if there would be a breakaway, so the situation was quite confusing. With my team, we were as united as possible, the breakaway won and for us it was fine not being a general classification rider, but we could never lower our guard. The circuit had many curves and counter-curves, climbs and descents, a break could happen at any moment and so I chose to ride at the front and also test my legs and be ready for any eventuality," Lorenzo Finn explains to tuttobiciweb. Jonathan Vervenne's attack never worried him, as he was not a general classification rider, and so he left the task of managing the pursuit to other teams.

Today, however, the music changes and on the Passo Maniva there will no longer be a chance to hide, certainly there will be a great first blow to the general classification. The final climb is 13.3 km with an average of 6.8% and peaks of 13%, a beautiful challenge for all the champions of tomorrow who will have to be ready. "Honestly, I haven't done a reconnaissance of the climb," continues Lorenzo Finn, "but I've studied it. The finish is quite challenging and I believe my rivals will want to do something. Certainly, there will be a first selection and those with good legs cannot hide, the team is working well and I feel confident. In the group, the level is high and there are several very strong guys, the most dangerous are certainly Jarno Widar and Jorgen Nordhagen".

What surprises most about this eighteen-year-old is his tranquility, the awareness of having the world's eyes on him and being assaulted by us journalists. "I'm doing well, my legs are turning well and honestly, no, I don't feel the pressure, I'm just thinking about giving my maximum. We're only at the beginning, the road is still long," he tells us with total naturalness. Meanwhile, the crowd around him is shouting his name at the top of their lungs, he's very young but is already being mobbed for many photos and handshakes. Today will be the first great test, and he knows very well that he must be prepared, an entire nation is waiting for him, but not only them.