Matteo Jorgenson reflects on debut year with Team Visma | Lease a Bike: “I had to kind of forget my muscle memory, or break that pattern”
Cycling
Matteo Jorgenson enjoyed a strong debut season with Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2024, claiming victories at Paris-Nice and Dwars door Vlaanderen. The American also came heartbreakingly close to a Tour de France stage win, only to be denied by Tadej Pogacar.
In an interview with the Italian magazine Alvento, Jorgenson shared insights into the transformative journey he underwent after joining his new team.
"When I signed with Visma | Lease a Bike in the summer, they sent me to their bio mechanist in Bilbao. He showed me a video of me cycling in the Tour de France and he said: the way you turn the pedals, you are one of the least efficient in the entire peloton," Jorgenson revealed.
Jorgenson joined Visma when the team was on a high following their incredible 2023. Whilst the team endured a difficult time in 2024, Jorgenson consistently showed why he is so highly rated, and that he can be a GC contender going forward.
The feedback set Jorgenson on a challenging path of change, "I had to really want it, because it was going to be a tough, nervous process," Jorgenson recalled. "I had to kind of forget my muscle memory, or break that pattern. If I could do that, I could make big progress."
Explaining the process, Jorgenson said, "I would activate certain muscles after cycling in a certain way for eighteen years. Which ultimately turned out not to be the right way at all."
Jorgenson’s commitment to refining his technique has already paid off, as demonstrated by his impressive results in 2024. With the support of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the American has established himself as one of the rising stars of the peloton. Fans will be eager to see how he continues to progress in the coming seasons.
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