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After an all-conquering final season in the U23 ranks, Lorenzo Finn and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe are attempting to manage expectations as the Italian prepares to assume fully-fledged professional status from January 2027.
The German team announced on Monday that the 19-year-old super-talent will graduate from the ‘Rookies’ development squad to the WorldTour team in 2027 – a move which had already been baked in for several months.
In fact, Finn – three months younger than Paul Seixas – had the opportunity to turn professional in 2026 but, after winning the U23 road race world title in 2025, preferred to spend another year in the development ranks, and went on to dominate the Giro d’Italia Next Gen and Tour de l’Avenir.
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Aside from claiming those big U23 titles, he rode extensively at pro level, representing Red Bull’s WorldTour squad on loan at several lower-level races, including the Sibiu Tour, which he won. He also elected to ride in the elite category at the World Championships, placing 55th in a race most didn’t finish.
“Becoming a professional cyclist is a dream that is now coming true. You have to take a moment to pause and tell yourself: I haven’t reached my ultimate goal yet, but I’ve made it as a pro. It’s something I’ve wanted since I was a child,” Finn said in a press release from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
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The same press release insisted that the “gradual approach to his development will continue as he makes the step up”, and part of the puzzle will be managing expectations after this year so clearly marked him out as a future superstar. The success of Seixas hardly helps, with the Frenchman already having two pro seasons under his belt, this year winning a Monument and placing fourth at the Tour de France.
“Now I must not put too much pressure on myself,” said Finn, who is tipped to rival Seixas and others for Grand Tour titles in the future.
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“First, I need to get used to the level. I don’t have any specific expectations for my first year as a pro. I want to keep developing throughout the season and help the team.
“I still have time. I’m a long way from reaching my full potential. But I’ve reached a level where I can be confident in myself. Now I feel 100 per cent ready to take the next step.”
As for the biggest hurdle to overcome in the pro ranks, he said: “The race distance. I’m now coping well with the U23 distances. But when I see how long the Monuments and the major professional races are, there’s still a lot of work to be done.
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“That’s normal and will be my most important area for development. But I also believe that I’ll improve simply by riding these races. Ultimately, it’s about being able to perform even after five or six hours.”
Finn’s race schedule for 2027 has not been mapped out but he indicated his desire to race a first Grand Tour in his first pro season.
A milestone for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe
As for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, Finn represents a success story, given that, after riding for the Auto Eder junior squad, he becomes the first rider to graduate through each level of the team’s development structure to reach the WorldTour.
The Auto Eder squad has long been affiliated with the professional squad of the organisation managed by Ralph Denk, with the Rookies programme launched in 2025 in Red Bull’s first full season of title sponsorship.
“Developing our own riders is a central part of our strategy. Our goal is to provide young athletes with a clear pathway to the WorldTour,” said the team’s Chief of Sports, Zak Dempster.
“Lorenzo is the first rider to have followed that pathway from the junior ranks onwards. It confirms that our concept works. At the same time, it sends a clear message to the best young talents around the world: if you want to develop over the long term, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe offers the right environment to do so.”
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