‘I am punchy like Pogačar’ – 18-year-old neo-pro takes World Championship bronze in second-ever e-race
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There was little shock in regards to the winner within the males’s UCI Biking Esports World Championships on Saturday night time. Germany’s Jason Osborne, just lately retired from WorldTour outfit Alpecin Deceuninck, was on one other degree to his opponents and soloed to victory in Pogačar-like trend on the ultimate stage.
However there was a shock in third place, in addition to one other likening to Pogačar, courtesy of 18-year-old Kasper Borremans from Finland. He instructed media within the post-race press convention that this was solely his second-ever on-line race, a lot to the bemusement of esports veterans Osborne and Lionel Vujasin, who sat beside him.
He added he was solely right here as a result of his coach instructed him to return, as he prepares for a season on the highway in 2025.
Third place in a World Championship could be a profession spotlight for a lot of the riders on this race, however for younger Borremans, this might be simply the beginning.
“I signed with Bahrain [Victorious], so I will be a highway bike owner subsequent yr,” he started. “So, not esports. My coach stated to do that so I simply got here right here.”
His contract with the crew, he later instructed Cyclingnews, will take him by way of 2028. He’ll spend two years with Biking Workforce Friuli Victorious – the Bahrain Victorious growth crew – earlier than stepping as much as the WorldTour outfit firstly of 2027.
He describes himself as “most likely a climber,” including “I am like, an extended climber, 20 minutes, after which the quick efforts I am fairly good at that too. Fairly punchy like Pogačar I feel.”
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The teen was evidently happy when he realized of his podium consequence (Picture credit score: SW Pix)
The younger Finn is clearly a gifted rider, and his consequence right here confirms as a lot, however previous to his podium in Abu Dhabi, his 2024 season has included common classification podiums at some esteemed junior races. He took third at La Philippe Gilbert Juniors earlier in October, and in June he took victories in each the time trial and highway race on the Finnish Junior Nationwide Championships.
Whether or not he can translate this into Pogačar-like outcomes on the prime degree is a great distance from a identified entity. Not least as a result of for now, he nonetheless has to deal with faculty.
Returning to the subject of the bronze medal hanging round his neck, he doubles down on the happenstance that introduced him right here.
“In Finland it is winter, so I experience on Zwift. I nonetheless have faculty, so I am unable to go to Italy or Spain. That is why I do that. My coach stated to do it.”
Along with his earlier comparability to Pogačar, the dialog turned to his future objectives. At 18 years outdated, with two years in a growth crew, the Finn might be given a gradual construct by way of into the WorldTour, however goals of successful the Tour de France are already on his thoughts.
“It’s essential consider in your self. That’s the very first thing,” he stated when requested if he thought it was doable. “I feel it is doable, however we are going to see how issues occur. I need to preserve my ft on the bottom.”
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