The Easter Monday U23 classic continues to attract some of the most promising names in international cycling. Among the riders expected at the 87th Giro del Belvedere on Monday, April 6, is Poland’s Jan Michal Jackowiak, one of the standout talents of the early season, who will line up as part of a highly competitive Bahrain Victorious Development Team: “We have high ambitions”
With just over a week to go until the 2026 edition, the Giro del Belvedere is once again preparing to showcase the strength and depth of the international Under-23 scene. As per its tradition, the roads of the Treviso area will provide the setting for a race that has long served as a benchmark for emerging riders looking to make their mark on the road to the professional ranks.
Among the expected contenders is Poland’s Jan Michal Jackowiak, born in 2007, who already made a strong impression in 2025 with a podium finish at the Junior World Championships in Rwanda, before opening his 2026 campaign with an encouraging performance at the Giro di Sardegna, where he claimed the best young rider jersey and finished sixth overall.
“I go into every race with high ambitions and high expectations,” said Jackowiak. “This year I’ve moved up a category and we’re trying different things in training, monitoring my progress. Sixth place at the Giro di Sardegna was definitely a very good start.”
His presence further strengthens the level of a Giro del Belvedere field that once again features some of the best international development teams. Bahrain Victorious Development returns to Villa di Cordignano after going close to victory in 2025, when Jakob Omrzel finished runner-up behind Lorenzo Finn.
“We’re heading to the Giro del Belvedere with a lot of confidence and with a very strong team,” Jackowiak added. “We’re not hiding our ambitions: we want to aim high and deliver a big result.”
The Slovenian Omrzel, second last year and then winner among others of Giro Next Gen, has since progressed to the senior team set-up, confirming once again the Giro del Belvedere’s status as a proving ground for riders on the verge of the highest level. Jackowiak now brings the profile of another athlete capable of leaving his mark on the race. “Advice from Omrzel? It can definitely help to know what worked best last year and what we can improve this time.”
The 2026 edition is expecting once again fierce competition. The possibility of defending champion Lorenzo Finn returning for the back to back is still on the table, yet the quality of the participants and teams already confirms the Giro del Belvedere’s role as one of the key appointments on the international U23 calendar.
A total of 35 teams are set to line up in Villa di Cordignano, Treviso, including 7 WorldTour development teams and 24 Continental squads. Over 168 kilometres and more than 2,000 metres of elevation gain, the race will once again test the complete skill set of the next generation of cycling talent.
The programme for Easter Monday will begin with the team presentation at Villa Mocenigo-Bernardi in Villa di Villa, next to the start. After the race, the same Villa will also host the awards ceremony.
