Matteo Jorgenson proved himself one of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's brightest stars in 2024. In his debut campaign with the team, the American took overall victory Paris-Nice, finished 2nd at the Criterium du Dauphine and secured a top-10 at the Tour de France. As such, big things are expected of Jorgenson going forward.
Although it's unfair to say Jorgenson's victory as Paris-Nice was a surprise, as it turns out, his Visma teammate Jonas Vingegaard actually predicted it during some of their first training rides together. "Last year Jonas and I were roommates during the winter training camp and he said that I could win Paris-Nice," reveals Jorgenson to Sporza. "I responded: I would be very happy with the top 5."
As mentioned though, Vingegaard was bang on the money with Jorgenson fighting off the challenge of the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Brandon McNulty, Mattias Skjelmose and Aleksandr Vlasov among others to take victory. "Because of that final victory in Paris-Nice I have to reset my ambitions and set myself higher and new goals. Otherwise I wouldn't push myself enough to keep working hard," he says. "I have set myself the goal of winning a Grand Tour one day."
Despite those lofty ambitions though, Jorgenson is in no rush. In fact, the American has actually turned down the chance to compete for a Grand Tour victory in 2025. "I was already offered the opportunity to be the leader in the Giro this year, but I didn't feel ready for that yet," he reveals, with Visma instead opting for new signing Simon Yates as their likely GC challenger in Italy.
Instead, it's back to the Tour de France in support of Vingegaard. "Hopefully I can prove in the Tour this year that I have improved a bit and can ride a good 3rd week. If that works out, I will compete in a Grand Tour myself next year," he concludes. "That will be the big challenge of my career. I don't think it's impossible. A first step towards that Tour victory would be a win or a podium place in the Giro or the Vuelta."