"I feel stronger, wiser, and ready" - Matteo Jorgenson joins Vingegaard and Van Aert to race Tour de France, Flanders, Paris-Nice and Dauphine in 2025

Matteo Jorgenson moved from Movistar to Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2024 and according to his own words, it was a year that changed everything. The incredibly versatile and talented American won several high-level races and support the team in others. Besides having some leadership opportunities, he will be racing together with Jonas Vingegaard or Wout van Aert throughout most of the year.

“2024 was a year that changed everything for me in one go. My move to this team paid off quickly. I had to adjust to a new structure and new faces, but everything went really smoothly. I felt the trust right away," Jorgenson said in a press release. He won Paris-Nice and Dwars door Vlaanderen, rode to a Top10 at the Tour whilst supporting his leader, was second behind Primoz Roglic at the Criterium du Dauphiné and played a key role in many other races throughout the year.

“I never thought I’d be able to win a race like that (Paris-Nice, ed.). It changed a lot in my mind. It made me realize that I’m capable of more than I had previously believed. That win early in the year gave me a mental boost. It was like discovering a new version of myself. I want to fight for the win again in a week-long stage race, like Paris-Nice or the Critérium du Dauphiné. Last year I was already close in the Dauphiné, so that’s a big motivation".

His level increased dramatically, and he can certainly be a second card in many of the races he will participate in. He will race Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne, E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders alongside Wout van Aert where he should be a key figure for the Dutch team and a card for victories himself.

“I also think the E3 Saxo Classic suits me well. I’ve already finished in the top five in the last two editions. It’s a race I really want to win. A one-day classic is high on my wish list for 2025. It’s challenging because so many factors come into play in a classic. That’s what makes it so interesting for me.”

Alongside that, he will put on the number 1 at Paris-Nice as the defending champion, but will be alongside Jonas Vingegaard to form a formidable duo that will be very hard to beat in the absence of Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic. He will also team up with the Dane at the Criterium du Dauphiné, which he almost won this year against his Slovenian rival.

Then the Tour de France, next to the already confirmed Vingegaard, Van Aert, Simon Yates and Sepp Kuss. Visma are taking the goal of winning the Tour once again head on and are having all of their top riders focus on the French race so as to be able to beat Tadej Pogacar.

“I really want to improve on my eighth place in the Tour de France and show that I’m making progress in the Grand Tours. I see myself as an overall rider for the future. It’s a dream to take real steps in that direction," Jorgenson says. "Riding a Grand Tour is about more than just strength. It’s also a mental game. I want to prove that I have the mental resilience to handle that".

The 25-year old has proven himself as one of the world's best and can only be ambitious ahead of a new season. “My altitude training camps last year worked really well. They turned out to be crucial moments in my season, so I’ll stick with that. If I manage to win a WorldTour race this year, I think I’ll be very satisfied. I feel stronger, wiser, and ready to perform again. I’ve worked hard recently, and I feel like I’ve taken another step. Now it’s time to let my legs do the talking.”

He is also pleased by the entry of Simon Yates in the team, with whom he will team up at the Tour de France as right-hand men for a focused Vingegaard. “Simon is someone I’ve always looked up to. It’s great to be riding alongside him. He has a unique style, and I’m sure he’ll bring a lot to our team. Together, we can be tactically stronger in races and achieve great things as a team.”