Matteo Jorgenson has made it clear that his next goal is a Grand Tour victory following his impressive second consecutive win at Paris-Nice. The American rider of Visma-Lease a Bike, who clinched the yellow jersey with a bold performance, is now focused on targeting one of cycling’s most prestigious three-week races.
On the sun-drenched streets of Nice, Jorgenson completed a dominant week of racing with a daring attack on the Col d’Èze before time-trialling his way into the streets of the city. Though he ultimately fell short of catching fellow American Magnus Sheffield, who secured his first WorldTour-level win, Jorgenson’s effort was a display of strength and determination.
The two Americans shared an emotional moment at the finish, surrounded by jubilant team staff and television cameras, celebrating an all-American showdown on the final day of the race.
Reflecting on the victory, Jorgenson shifted his focus to the future. He had previously downplayed the possibility of leading the Tour de France, especially after his team lost Jonas Vingegaard to injury during stage five. However, following his win in Nice, Jorgenson’s thoughts on leadership in Grand Tours had evolved.
“It was something I have thought about a lot during the off-season,” Jorgenson explained. “Last year, the team asked me if I wanted to race a Grand Tour as a leader, and now it’s a goal in my career.”
“Winning Paris-Nice twice seemed almost impossible before, but now it’s time to set the bar higher,” he added. “I can’t say I’m capable of winning a Grand Tour, but I want to try and work towards it.”
In addition to his growing ambitions for Grand Tours, Jorgenson emphasized his goal of solidifying his leadership within the team. “It was one of my objectives this year to really become a leader, and the team also asked me to take on that role,” he said. “I’ve worked on mastering leadership and contributing my views in team meetings.”
Jorgenson revealed that his initial plans for the season included targeting Tirreno-Adriatico, but he ultimately pushed for a return to Paris-Nice. “I was told by Grischa [Niermann, Visma-Lease a Bike’s Head of Racing] that it was more logical for me to race Tirreno, but Paris-Nice gave me a better feeling. It felt like a race I could make my own, and I was motivated for it,” he said.
Visma-Lease a Bike’s sports director, Frans Maasens, shared his pride in Jorgenson’s performance, praising him as “one of the best riders in the world.” Maasens acknowledged Jorgenson’s consistent displays of strength, especially during last year’s Tour and the Classics, and expressed confidence in his potential.
“He’s definitely ready for a bigger role in Grand Tours,” Maasens said. “While winning the Tour is still a long way off, Matteo is incredibly talented, and we’ll see much more from him in the coming years.”
With his second Paris-Nice title now secured, Jorgenson has set his sights on even greater challenges ahead, with a Grand Tour victory at the top of his list.
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