"I was actually surprised that I got it" - Matteo Jorgenson takes early GC advantage with bonus seconds on opening stage of Paris-Nice

On an electric opening to Paris-Nice 2024, there were already GC riders coming to the fore. One of these was Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Matteo Jorgenson who took six bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint.

"There was a key corner before the bonus sprint and yeah, it wasn't my intention before the stage to go for bonus seconds. I just thought that for sure it would Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel up there," the American reflects in a post-stage interview with ITV Sport. "I was third or fourth into the corner and I didn't look back. Just went for it and I was actually surprised that I got it."

Even after the bonus seconds were claimed, the fight between GC hopefuls continued. "It was chaotic," Jorgenson smiles. "Remco wanted to keep going but because we still had Olav Kooij for the sprint, I wasn't going to pull with him."

In the end, it did all come back together and in the sprint it was Jorgenson's teammate, Kooij who took victory. "I had no part in the leadout so I can't take any credit," he laughs. "The two Van Dijke brothers did a super good job, Olav entered in perfect position, so it was a good day!"