NSN Development Team is all set for this year’s Giro Next Gen, the biggest race on the calendar for under-23 teams, which begins on Sunday.
Roei Edinger, Álvaro Garcia, Dawid Lewandowski, Ben Morin, Fin Tarling, and new signing Emil Nymand Nielsen will make up our six-man roster for the race. Garcia is the oldest rider at 21, while Morin (18) and Tarling (19) are both still teenagers.
This year’s route takes place in Italy’s southern and central regions, starting in Calabria – the “toe of the boot” – and finishing in the beautiful Abruzzo.
Four of its eight stages look key to the GC. Stage 3 from Sibari to Villa d’Agri di Marsicovetere features 3,200 meters of climbing in 169km, stage 6 culminates with a summit finish on Monte Livata, while the shortest road stage – 7 – features three mountains along the route from Sulmona – Piana delle Mele.
The last shake-up will come in the final day ITT, which finishes in the historic city of L’Aquila.
“Our idea is to fight for stage wins – for this objective, we have Dawid, who has shown a really good level in his previous races,” says DS Rubén Plaza. “We have options for sprints on stages 1, 2, and 4.
“For the harder stages, we hope that Ben, Roei, and Emil can be in the mix. Stages 6 and 7 are the hardest of the race, for sure.
“We don’t have a big GC focus for the race, but we can look at how the race goes as we progress through the week.”
For Lewandowski, competing in the race was a big goal for him as recently as a few months ago.
The 20-year-old from Poland, a first-year ride with the Devo Team, has recorded five top-10 finishes so far in 2026, including three at the recent Alpes Isère Tour in France.
He says: “I think this will be the hardest race I’ve ever done – the best Devo and U23 teams are there, it’s an eight-day race with some big mountain stages – but I’ve prepared well so I hope I am ready for this challenge.
“I got a lot of confidence from a good ride at Alpes Isère Tour, so I hopefully I can bring that form into the Giro.
“I’m really excited. It’s pretty special to be on the start line – racing the Giro Next Gen was just a dream for me 12 months ago.”
Garcia, who raced with the WorldTeam at Grand Premio Miguel Indurain and O Gran Camiño in April, will compete in the Giro Next Gen for the third time in 2026. The Spanish rider believes he enters the race in good shape.
He says: “My form recently has been the best I have felt this year, but everybody is in good shape. Everybody will be super prepared and ready, as it is such a big goal.
“The main goal is to be competitive, be in the front, and try to aim for a stage, then maybe we will see about the GC.
“I learned a lot racing it last year, and this will help me this time around.”
NSN Development Team at the Giro Next Gen (Sunday 14 – 21 June)
Riders: Roei Edinger (ISR), Álvaro Garcia (ESP), Dawid Lewandowski (POL), Ben Morin (CAN), Emil Nymand Nielsen (DEN), Fin Tarling (GBR)
Sports Directors: Rubén Plaza (ESP), Lahav Davidzon (ISR)