E̴q̴u̴i̴p̴o̴ ̴d̴e̴ ̴v̴e̴r̴a̴n̴o̴ ❌ 𝐂𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐱𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧 😏 @MatteoJorg | @ivan_cortina | #E3SaxoClassic 📸 @GettySport
"I’m starting to like these races more and more" - Matteo Jorgenson thrives and takes motivation from E3 Saxo Classic performance
CyclingSaturday, 25 March 2023 at 02:30
Stage-racers more and more often seem to thrive in the cobbled classics. Tadej Pogacar is leading the movement, however right behind him in the standings at the E3 Saxo Classic finished Matteo Jorgenson, who rode to a brilliant result in the brutal race.
The American was shocked to see the race open up in the Taaienberg. “It was just full gas and I just saw them riding away from me like that, while I was in the gutter suffering. Those guys are really impressive. Hopefully one day I can be at that level," Jorgenson said in a post-race interview. “After the Taaienberg, I went solo just to get ahead of the race a little bit, because I knew that when those guys went, I probably wouldn’t be able to go with them."
Jorgenson, who had came from Paris-Nice with great form where he finished fifth in the final stage, was a co-leader for Movistar at E3. He has never ridden the Tour des Flandres but will make his debut this coming week, and travelled to Belgium to test his form in the race that most resembles the big one. He thrived, attacking after van der Poel and van Aert's attack was initially caught, and then resisting the moves in the chasing group throughout the afternoon.
“But it was probably a bad moment. I went ahead and then they caught me, and as soon as they caught me, another group attacked, and I didn’t go with it. I basically just stayed with the big guys. When those three went, I couldn’t go with them, obviously, but I think we did the best we could," he details the moment where the leading trio attacked off the main group.
Away from the main cameras, Jorgenson would ride in the chasing group around one minute behind for many kilometers. After all the climbs were done he then joined a move with Stefan Küng, and was joined by teammate Ivan Cortina and Matej Mohoric. The quartet first managed to secure their distance to their former group companions, and had the right to fight for fourth place.
“The four of us worked well together for the last 20k," he continues. "Then I just attacked them with 2km to go and thankfully nobody responded. I mean, in the end, we weren’t catching those three guys in front. We were just racing for fourth at a certain point because there was a one-minute gap with 5k to go.”
Jorgenson finished fourth on the day - with Cortina riding behind in fifth - being the 'best of the rest' just 33 seconds under. It was a terrific performance which may see him once more in a leading position over this spring in the Spanish team. “I had really great legs and I knew this race was one of the hardest Classics."
I thought it was really good for me and I came to Belgium just for this, so it was super nice,” the American concluded. “I’m super happy with that, it’s a big result for me. I’m starting to like these races more and more. They are chaotic and all about positioning and I think those things suit me well.”
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