Visma | Lease a Bike spil Matteo Jorgenson's crucial iPhone notes for Flemish Ardennes mayhem

If there was one Visma | Lease a Bike man who was responsible for the shuffle twice this weekend, it was Matteo Jorgenson. In his first two races for the Dutch formation, the American proved crucial in setting up the decisive moves, also immediately winning the respect of many of his teammates. On social media, he shared some interesting notes from the Dutch team's team plan, which IDLProcycling spoke to him about. 

Screenshot in the Instagram story of Matteo Jorgenson, Saturday night after the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Title: "Omloop notes," caption "I think that went according to plan," and a whole thread of notes from the American before the start of the first classic of the season and his first race for Visma | Lease a Bike. 

In his summary of the team plan for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, he had identified five points as crucial. The Haaghoek after 35 kilometers first. 'There I have to be in position, because then a big road towards Oudenaarde follows with potential crosswinds.' In the end, it turned out to be slightly twisted there and things could not yet be pulled onto the side immediately, but a first warning had already been issued.

Next point in the notebook that Jorgenson completed Friday night at 10:25 p.m.: 55 kilometers into the race. 'Turning point 1,' said the Nice-based driver. 'There we will cross the highway and the buildings will end, then the wind will come from the left. Explosion,' we read. And so it came to pass: at that point, Visma | Lease a Bike pulled it off with five men in bits and pieces, which would ultimately determine much of the course.

Through the Kattenberg - one of the first hills after a hundred kilometers - Jorgenson writhed toward the next crucial point: the Valkenberg. 'The last big climb before the big road towards the Wolvenberg. BE IN POSITION AND READY,' the man from the States readies himself for the big fight. Point 145 kilometers: last straight turn before the Wolvenberg and thus the last chance to move up. Then GO,' he imprints to himself.

And yes, on that same Wolvenberg, it was indeed Jorgenson who rode to pieces. Five men followed in the footsteps of the broad-shouldered rider from the Yellow B formation: teammates Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte, as well as Tom Pidcock, Arnaud De Lie and the surprising Toms Skujins. The latter challenged Visma's three musketeers moments later with a solid start on the Berendries, then tried to exhaust Skujins with demarrages back and forth.

In the end, Jorgenson found himself in the lead on his own. "It was a dream come true, to ride solo in the lead in my first race. I had to pinch myself in my arm there, this has always been one of my dream races," said the American. 'It was going well. But towards the Wall it was full of headwinds. Before I got to the Chapel Wall, I was already over my threshold. So I was still happy to get over the Bosberg, and that way I also managed to set up the team perfectly," he noted with satisfaction. After which Jan Tratnik finally managed to complete the team's plan in Ninove. 

IDLProcycling Jorgenson asked about his notebook the day after. 'Ah yes, those notes ... I wrote them down for myself the day before the Omloop so I could refresh my memory a bit before the race. But the team's plan was already prepared in December, I think. We did a reconnaissance in November and from that reconnaissance a very clear idea was set up for this race. So why did I write that down for myself? I'm not Belgian, so I had to clarify," he laughs.

Of course you are talking about a big difference with other teams, in terms of approach. Jorgenson comes from Movistar and things were very different there. In the run-up to the classics we went to Tenerife with eleven guys to prepare ourselves. The training sessions are also pretty different than I was used to from the past. I do a lot of things differently.'

In Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, too, the set-up plan worked out perfectly, with once again a crucial role for the hard rider from the other side of the Atlantic. 'This was exactly the plan. We wanted to use one climb to take initiative and when it didn't work there, we went on the next climb. I don't know the names, because again, I'm not Belgian, but it was a French name.'

'We got the selection we wanted, were able to make some plays and Wout rode away with an ideal group. It was perfect, with strong men with whom he could stay away. He was the fastest in the sprint, so a perfect performance,' it sounded satisfied after the Opening Weekend, in which Jorgenson received another well-deserved pat on the back from sport director Arthur van Dongen upon reaching the bus.

Not only the staff, but also leader Van Aert is happy with the addition of the eager American. 'Matteo rode the classics for the first time last year. It is a super strong and good guy to race with and that also wants and can do it from far away, so together with Jan that is just a very good reinforcement for the team we already had,' the Belgian concludes about Jorgenson, who will now focus on a good classification in Paris-Nice.