Jorgenson points out Visma's weak spot after Dwars door Vlaanderen debacle: "We’re honest about it"

Visma | Lease a Bike pulled out all the stops on Wednesday in Dwars door Vlaanderen but lost the tug-of-war in the end with three men against EF loner Neilson Powless. Afterward, the team searched for explanations, although shortly after the race, the blunders in the final were the main focus of attention. Matteo Jorgenson, number four in the race, pinpointed the problem.

Jorgenson was among the men who forced the pace on the Berg ten Houte, together with Tiesj Benoot and Wout van Aert. Only Powless, who had attacked earlier, could follow the yellow and black men on the rest of the climbs, but as a lone rider against the supreme Visma | Lease a Bike block, it seemed like a mission impossible for him.

It seemed because the Dutch team - at their request - decided to side with Van Aert. The Belgian had to sprint in Waregem for his first victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen, and they were betting everything on it. Jorgenson increased the pace heading into the final 500 meters, after which Benoot launched Van Aert. The Belgian overtook him but saw Powless approaching faster on the other side of the road and threw his hands in the air, to the dismay of the large Belgian crowd and presumably all TV viewers.

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Jorgenson knows Powless well: "I know how fast and explosive he is"

Okay, so what was Jorgenson's predominant feeling? "We rode a good race until ten kilometers from the end," he said, making his view of the final of Dwars door Vlaanderen very clear. "There, we decided to go for a sprint with Wout. And that was the wrong choice. We're honest about that," he said.

"We underestimated Neilson. I have to congratulate him because he rode a great sprint," said Jorgenson. Strange, because he knows his fellow countrymen well and is a former Visma cyclist, they must know what Powless is capable of at the yellow and black formation. "For me, it wasn't a surprise. I know Neilson and know how fast and explosive he is," Jorgenson corrected.

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Jorgenson repeats himself: "Good ride, until ten kilometers from the finish"

"Wout decided in consultation with the car that he would sprint instead of attacking. And that is the call we made, with the gap we had at that moment. And it was the wrong call," repeated the American, who was very disappointed they did not come away with the victory in Waregem.

How did they experience that final in the leading group? "We were a bit nervous because of the headwind, with the group that could come from behind. So we decided to use Tiesj and me to set the pace and gamble on Wout. And that was the wrong choice," Jorgenson said once again. Conclusion: "We have improved with every race since the Opening Weekend. And we rode well here until ten kilometers from the end. That's it."

Read also

What a climax! Powless surprises everyone and beats Visma trio in Dwars door Vlaanderen

Preview Tour of Flanders 2025 | The Big Three, Four or Five, or an outsider?

Powless single-handedly cracked Visma | LaB's trio code: "Never in a million years"

Van Aert admits to 'selfish' decision: "For once, I thought about myself"

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