Finding. On Tuesday, in Varese, Jarno Widar, 20, won the Tre Valli Varesine. First professional win. Behind him, in an order I am not required to comment on: Tom Pidcock, Matteo Jorgenson, Quinn Simmons.
Firstly, the sprint. He left the other three about five metres behind, then passed them from the back, at very high speed. Kurt Van de Wouwer, sports manager at Lotto-Intermarché, called the sprint “by the book”. I reread the book. It does not provide for the manner. It provides for the line, and the line was crossed in order. Compliant.
Secondly, the statement. “But for me, nothing has changed. I am still Jarno Widar,” he told HLN. During the week, at the town hall, I issue identity cards. I am often presented with someone who claims to be still the same person. I compare the name, the date of birth, the photograph. Here, the name matches. Twenty years of age matches as well. I have no photograph, so I do not rule on the photograph.
Thirdly, what comes next. He is billed as one of the outsiders for the Tour of Lombardy. He describes the Civiglio as four kilometres of climbing at ten per cent. He adds: “Twelve minutes of very fast climbing is still something different from a sprint like that.” I note that a rider of twenty tells apart two articles of the rulebook himself. That is rare in a folder.
His manager says he sprints “as if he has been doing it for twenty years”. I note that he is twenty. I do not do the arithmetic.
Verdict: compliant.
I do not note what I thought when I read the five metres.
It’s true, we checked: HLN.
