Our feeder team will go to the start with the ambition of fighting for stage wins and a good general classification.
Reggio Calabria, a place where mythical lore seamlessly blends into the ancient geography, hosts the start of one of the most prestigious races on the U23 calendar, the Giro Next Gen. Eight stages, almost 1100 kilometers and around 15000 meters of elevation gain - all these are ingredients of a hard week of racing between 14-21 June, when this 49th edition is set to take place.
The course is one of two halves: the first, consisting of opportunities for the sprinters and the breakaway riders, and the second one which will be decisive for the general classification, featuring uphill finishes in Monte Livata and Piana delle Mele, as well as a 22.2km individual time trial from Civita di Bagno to L’Aquila, where the race concludes.
Soudal Quick-Step Devo has a special relationship with the Giro Next Gen. Three years ago, Gil Gelders claimed one of his biggest U23 victories there, in Cherasco. In 2024, Paul Magnier won a pair of stages and took home the points jersey, while one year later, Jonathan Vervenne powered to a memorable victory that came with the bonus of a day in the maglia rosa after a spectacular 60km solo.
This year, our team will be at the start with Brazilian sensation Henrique Bravo, who just a couple of days ago took his second GC success of the season at Oberösterreich Rundfahrt, Tour de Bretagne runner-up Federico Savino, Jasper Schoofs, Gauthier Servranckx, Viktor Soenens, and Erazem Valjavec.
We have a well-balanced squad with a strong combination of climbers and puncheurs.
“All strong riders, capable of performing across the diverse terrain of this race, one of the hardest of the season. The Giro Next Gen has traditionally been an important event for the team, providing a platform for young talents to showcase their abilities against the world’s best U23 riders.”
“Over the years, the squad has consistently achieved success in this race, securing at least one stage victory in every edition. With another talented and motivated group of riders - who have shown their strong form last week in Austria - the ambitions remain high. We will approach the Giro Next Gen with confidence and determination, aiming to continue our successful tradition there and fight for stage victories throughout the week. Concerning the general classification, we’ll support Henrique, but won’t put any pressure on him. We’ll just take it day by day and see how it goes and what he can achieve”, explained sports director Kevin Hulsmans.
Photo credit: ©Oberösterreich Rundfahrt
©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
