Visma | Lease a Bike will aim for grand tour podiums with Jorgenson: "It’s not impossible"

Matteo Jorgenson has found his place at Visma | Lease a Bike. In his first year with the Killer Bees, the American proved to be invaluable, securing victories in Paris-Nice and Dwars door Vlaanderen. He was also one of Jonas Vingegaard’s key domestiques in the Tour de France. It was a significant step up for Jorgenson, but he and his team are already looking ahead to the next challenge.

Joining a powerhouse like Visma | Lease a Bike and immediately heading to the Tour de France might seem overwhelming, but Jorgenson was ready. "It wasn't intimidating, no, it was just what I wanted," he told Cyclingnews. "It was almost an accomplishment, just joining the team I had in my mind for a long time that I wanted to join — the best team I possibly could. Just because I know how the sport works, and I know that you need resources and support to get to your best level, and so I was even willing to join a team where I wouldn't have as many opportunities if I could try to take advantage of the resources and the team at my disposal."

Jorgenson also played a crucial role in the classics. "The classics were different than in the past," he recalled. "For sure, you start them, with not just ambition to win, but it's the expectation really. With the team we had, every other rider in the race looked to us, every other director looked to our team for the classics. So it was like you had that feeling of pressure, but I also knew I had the strongest riders around me." He delivered on those expectations with a solo victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen.

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After Paris-Nice, Jorgenson picks up his second win of the 2024 season in Dwars door Vlaanderen

Can Jorgenson win a grand tour? "It will be a massive challenge"

Team director Frans Maassen knows he has a gem in Jorgenson. "He really does know what he wants and he's very clear about things, it helps a lot to integrate into the team." The Dutchman admits he didn’t anticipate just how much the former Movistar rider would achieve in his first season. "We expected, of course, a lot from him, but winning Paris-Nice was a big surprise. And he won a classic, did a really strong Tour de France and Olympics. He is also a great leader for the team."

Jorgenson’s eighth-place finish in the Tour came as a surprise to him but also hinted at his potential. Maassen sees what’s possible for the American. "I think it's possible one year he can be on the podium of a grand tour, I would say. It's not impossible that he can reach that, but we have to see that in the next years. He's very good on many terrains so he can also win classics, we'll just have to see. But winning a grand tour, that will be a really huge challenge but I think he can do a really good placement in the next years somewhere." Jorgenson, for his part, remains content with a domestique role for now, even next year. "With Jonas, of course, it's difficult to be a leader with him if you go, but anything is possible," Maassen concluded.

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