"I actually didn't achieve any of the goals I set at the beginning of the year" - Key Visma leader's honest 2026 season admission
Cycling
Visma | Lease a Bike's Matteo Jorgenson had grand plans when he began his 2026 season. Now that he's raced his last of the season, he looks back on those goals and sees that he didn't tick any of the boxes. But for the American, not all is lost as he heads into the 2027 season.
Planning the first part of season around the Ardennes Classics, Jorgenson saw his plans come crashing down along with a broken collarbone at Amstel Gold Race. Just like that, months of planning and altitude camps led to disappointment.
Bouncing back at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, he showed mixed form as he struggled to reach his best level. However, in the final block of the season including the World Championships, he appeared to find his groove once more.
Reflecting on his initial season goals and preparation, he admitted that a lot of pressure came with preparing for the Ardennes Classics - which include Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastognbe-Liege. He knows he can't have all go right in the end.
“I think it’s been a good season; I can’t be too negative about it. When I compare it to my expectations for the season, things didn’t go entirely according to plan, and I didn’t win a race,” he told Domestique.
Matteo Jorgenson crosses the line at Il Lombardia 2026
"I actually didn't achieve any of the goals I set at the beginning of the year"
"I actually didn't achieve any of the goals I set at the beginning of the year, but you can't always have a perfect year."
He admitted that while his Amstel Gold Race proved the most impactful day of his season in terms of form, he knows that his top shape is there after stepping up in recent weeks.
"That crash in the Amstel definitely changed a lot for me. I think I was in top form back then. But by the end of the year, I was back in pretty good shape—which was a first for me."
In terms of preparation, he's not out to re-invent the wheel when it comes to his 2027 focus. He wants to reduce the emphasis on the Ardennes Classics by adding other goals around the races.
“I’ve thought about it, and I’m not sure if I want to go through that same preparation again. I mean, riding in the Ardennes would be great anyway, but to focus entirely on it again.
"It's a lot of pressure to race three times, and it's also tough to train at high altitude for a month just for three days. So maybe we'll do it differently, with a race before or after, but it would be cool to race them again."
Jorgenson's World Championships master plan
His World Championships performance saw him help USA teammate Brandon McNulty win the rainbow jersey in Montreal. In top form, Jorgenson followed and quashed counter-attacks after the UAE rider went solo with 32 kilometres to go.
As his shape improved and the World Championships came into view, Jorgenson revealed that not only was the attack planned, but he was the architect behind USA's rainbow raid.
“I hesitate to say it, because I want to think about it for a bit, but I think this might just be the race I’m most proud of. After all, I played a major role in both planning and executing it.
"I thought about it a lot this summer during all my training rides after the Tour—what the best plan would be, who the competitors are. It was a matter of discussing it, and I wrote a document to put my thoughts down on paper. I sent that to all the riders about a week before the race, and the night before, we finalised the plan.|
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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