"A lot is still needed to grow from a good WorldTour climber to his level" - Visma's climbing gem Jørgen Nordhagen plays down comparisons to Jonas Vingegaard
Cycling
Jørgen Nordhagen is considered one of the peloton's greatest talents. The Norwegian has the potential to become one of the best GC riders in the world. No wonder Visma | Lease a Bike didn't waste time to sign a contract with the talent, who has already become Junior World Champion at Cross-country skiing(!), when he was still only 17 years old.
In his first season as U23 rider, Nordhagen already proved his climbing capacities when he dominated on La Planche des Belles Filles at Tour Alsace, won GP Poggiana with a 30-kilometer solo and dominated general classification at Giro delle Regione Friuli.
Visma | Lease a Bike manager Grischa Niermann recently told WielerRevue that Nordhagen has the potential to grow to the level of Jonas Vingegaard. "Jørgen is much further than Jonas was at that age, but yes, you only find a Jonas once in a hundred years."
"Jørgen has shown some nice things, but it is not yet possible to say whether he is a candidate to win a Grand Tour in the future. He is on the right track, but he is also not the type of Remco Evenepoel who we expect to excel in a San Sebastián in his first year."
Speaking to Norwegian VG, Nordhagen responded to Niermann's words. "It's cool and inspiring to hear that they have confidence and believe that I can be good at the top level. But there are many factors that play a role. Many people who were good at my age have struggled after a while."
Nordhagen, who rode for the development team of Team Visma | Lease a Bike last season, does not want to rush things himself either. "He is at an insane level," says Nordhagen. "A lot is still needed to grow from a good WorldTour climber to his level."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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