Jorgenson uses the experience he had with van der Poel in last year's Tour of Flanders: "I'll have that knowledge on Sunday"

Could he be the deciding factor for Visma | Lease a Bike in the Tour of Flanders? Now that Wout van Aert's status is ranked lower than that of Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, Tiesj Benoot and especially Matteo Jorgenson could well play a crucial role in the race's outcome. On Friday afternoon, the American looked ahead at a press conference organized by Visma | Lease a Bike in the team hotel, which IDLProCycling.com attended.

After the mistake in Waregem on Wednesday, Jorgenson was the man who did not beat around the bush, as van Aert and head of racing Grischa Niermann did a little later. However, on Sunday, it is a new race with new opportunities. This also applies to Jorgenson, who already competed well in last year's final of the Tour of Flanders. "Because Wout crashed beforehand, we had to change our plans. I was racing for victory but blew up chasing Mathieu van der Poel. I want to make it as far into the final as possible again this year."

The ambition for 2025 is the same. "This year, I want to get as far as possible in the final again," Jorgenson said when announcing the selection. "We'll see what that brings. I've already had a long spring campaign, but I am still highly motivated. I think we have multiple options to play a key role in this race with Wout, Tiesj Benoot, Dylan van Baarle, Per Strand Hagenes, and myself."

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What did Matteo Jorgenson have to say before the Tour of Flanders?

Let's first go back to Wednesday, when Jorgenson immediately concluded that he and his team had not handled Dwars door Vlaanderen well after the finish. "We rode a great race until ten kilometers from the finish. There, we decided to go for a sprint with Wout. And that was the wrong choice. We are honest about that. We underestimated Neilson. I must congratulate him because he rode a great sprint. For me, that was not a surprise. I know Neilson and know how fast and explosive he is," he said in Waregem.

Two days later, the American said he had sent a message to his compatriot from EF Education-EasyPost - who lives a few hundred meters away from him in Nice. "I saw Neilson after the finish and sent him a message congratulating him. He rode well and believed in himself, so he also deserved that message," said Jorgenson.

Along with teammates van Aert and Benoot, Jorgenson wanted to remember the positive. Visma | Lease a Bike put in a strong performance in the Flemish Ardennes on Wednesday, although Jorgenson knows this does not guarantee anything on Sunday. "Flanders is a fair race, and a strong team is important. I think we are among the strongest teams, but in the end, the best will come out on top in a classic of this distance."

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Jorgenson brings experience he had with van der Poel from 2024 to Flanders

If there is one man who knows that the Tour of Flanders is slightly different from Dwars door Vlaanderen, it is Jorgenson. He went after Van der Poel last year but bit off more than he could chew and ultimately did not compete for the prizes. What will he take from that edition to this year? "I still remember that I could cycle up the Koppenberg while almost everyone else had to walk," Jorgenson grins.

"I also bring the confidence and experience from that edition because I was the leader and learned exactly what that involves. I will have that experience on Sunday: in the critical phase, I can go with the front group, or in my case, at least up to the Koppenberg," said the Paris-Nice winner with a smile on his face.

There are voices here and there saying that Benoot and Jorgenson should throw themselves into the battle early on Sunday to maximize Visma | Lease a Bike's chances of winning. Wanting to win is one thing, but daring to lose is another. On the other hand, couldn't a podium in a Monument for someone like Jorgenson also be a milestone for himself?

"That is possible, but maximizing his team's chances of victory always comes first. I think we should race for the win, which should be the case," Jorgenson replies bluntly. "That intention has to be there, and if you do your best during the race, you will always end up where you belong because that is simply how it is in a race like the Tour of Flanders."

Read also

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

Van der Poel could break record on Sunday in the Tour of Flanders: "Underestimating opponents is never an option"

Girmay ready for the Tour of Flanders: "I can't wait to seize this moment and shine"

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