He lives in Salto, but he'll make the big leap later. When they suggested he move up a category, make the jump to the top series, Mark Lorenzo Finn politely declined the invitation. Finn is the Sinner of cycling, the great hope of the Italian movement, the young lad everyone has been talking highly about for some years now. A prodigy of just 19 years old who already has two world titles in his trophy case: one among juniors, the other among under-23s. He could have moved to Remco Evenepoel's Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe, instead he chose to stay another year in the "red bull" development squad. He comes from Salto, a hamlet of Avegno, above Recco, but he preferred to take small steps. If there's racing to be done, he does it only on a bicycle, even though he has a past as a footballer, like that Remco Evenepoel who is now his teammate this year.

«I can make the quality leap this year too, but what matters is not to rush and take one step at a time», the young man assures us.

He played football, but he never got caught up in it, exactly like his multi-medaled captain. Remco is a former professional world champion, winner of a Vuelta and two Liège-Bastogne-Liège races, plus two Olympic medals in Paris: both in the time trial and road race. Lorenzo Mark Finn also had fun with the ball for a while, then his passion for cycling prevailed. For the Belgian it was a matter of personality: «I hate sharing success with others, I love individual sports»; for Lorenzo it was a matter of attitude: «I discovered cycling and fell in love with it».

Lorenzo played "football" for the San Bernardino team as a central defender: «Although today on a bicycle I'm a true attacker», he clarifies. Then he injured his knee.

«Many start this way - the Ligurian explains to us -: cycling as rehabilitation. Then I discover that I really like it and the credit clearly goes to my dad, Peter, who took me out for a ride. I started racing late, in 2019, with Bici Camogli. The beginning wasn't easy, also because I knew nothing, let alone how to ride in a group. That's why I would attack, to stay safe. I liked riding a bicycle, but without putting my neck on the line. I wasn't fully developed yet, I was very raw compared to some of my peers and at that age there's a huge physical disparity. As a youth rider with Nuova Ciclistica Arma-Team Ballerini came the first significant results».

When was the turning year?
«It's 2023, let's say yesterday: I race among juniors with the CPS Professional Team jersey and that's when the first important gratifications arrive, the first victories».

Do you remember the first one?
«Of course. My first success in the province of Arezzo, then Sandrigo-Monte Corno, the Cene-Altino time trial climb, Pian Camuno-Montecampione and Collegno-Sestriere. Always the same pattern: like Evenepoel...».

You mean like Pogacar...
«Remco does the same things: he takes off and goes. I do the same. Let's say like those two: freaks of nature».

Do you have a dream?
«More than one: the biggest is to start the Tour. The first race I saw on TV in 2018: that's when I fell in love with Geraint Thomas. Another dream? To win a stage of the Grande Boucle».

And win it?
«It's the logical consequence for everyone who is ambitious and decides to pin a number on their back».

In 2023, the year he revealed himself, he finishes second at the Giro della Lunigiana, a short stage race that is the Tour of the junior category.
«Second behind Frenchman Paul Seixas, another talent. In the final stage, the Terre di Luni one, I win and improve by 16" the Montemarcello climb record, which belonged to Evenepoel».

What do you think when they call you a predestined talent of the pedal...
«I think: let's hope».

Would you like to become a phenomenon like Finner, pardon Sinner?
«Jannik is big stuff, but it wouldn't be bad».

Do you follow tennis?
«Not much, but I've played it: I even played in some tournaments».

Sinner or Musetti?
«Andy Murray».

You left home early: at just seventeen you went to race for a foreign team, Team Grenke-Auto Eder, the Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe development squad.
«All the guys my age put themselves out there and go where there's excellence. Red Bull is».

You obtained your scientific high school diploma.
«Exactly, at Leonardo da Vinci in Genoa».

Don't you regret staying in a Continental team and not moving to the Serie A of cycling with Evenepoel, Roglic and Pellizzari?
«I have a world champion jersey to show and I like the idea of being able to wear it for at least a year».

The most emotional day?
«I really savored the world triumph. I arrived alone and had time to realize what I was doing».

At the world championships, Belgian Jarno Widar, Slovenian Ormzel who won the Giro, and Spaniards Alvarez and Pericas were much more favored.
«But I also had my chances and I made the most of them».

A crazy performance.
«True. 164.6 km of racing, the first attack at minus 47 to break up the group and favorite Jarno Widar; the new push at minus 32; the decisive attack at minus 6 on the Kigali Golf climb with which I dropped Swiss rider Huber».

Perfection in three moves.
«It was the perfect day, in front of my parents, in front of Fabiana, my girlfriend».

What do you love doing in your free time?
«I love tranquility, being with friends, walking in the woods with Fabiana (we've been together for a year and a half, this year she'll graduate from scientific high school, ed.). Enjoying our free time. Nightclub? I don't love dancing...».

The tragedy of Crans Montana: what did it leave you with?
«A deep sense of dismay and anger».

Italian mother, English father: do you feel more Italian or English?
«Italian, even though British culture and their sense of humor fascinate me a lot».

Speaking of humor: have you seen "Buen Camino"?
«Not yet, but I definitely will. I really like Checco Zalone».

Favorite singer?
«I love English music and my favorite is Adele. Italian music? Summer hits, pretty much all of them, like those by Kolors».

What don't you like about cycling.
«In Italy there's a big safety problem for cyclists, we shouldn't hide it. Not everyone is disciplined».

Your favorite athlete?
«Absolutely Geraint Thomas: serious and likeable. When I won the world title he wrote to me, as did Remco (Evenepoel, ed.). Both told me to enjoy it».

What kind of rider do you think you are?
«Complete, but I especially love climbing: that's where a rider shows what he's made of. And I love attacking».

Do you feel the responsibility of one day being able to fill the void left by Vincenzo Nibali?
«I don't think about it. Vincenzo was great, I'm studying for...».

Favorite dish.
«Italian cuisine, in this case from my Liguria: pasta with pesto with little garlic».

You played football, who do you support?
«Today I follow very little, but my favorite team is Genoa».

You grew up in a family of engineers.
«Mom (Chiara Iperti, Ligurian, ed.) and dad Peter (English, from Sheffield, where Vincenzo Nibali wore the first yellow jersey at the 2014 Tour, ed.) are both professionals. We live in Salto, a hamlet of Avegno. "Dagghè Finn", it's still written on the asphalt in front of our house: strictly in Ligurian and not in English».

from tuttoBICI February