“Matteo was one of the few riders who could keep up with Van der Poel” - Visma rally behind Jorgenson after Tirreno-Adriatico crash setback

Team Visma | Lease a Bike have insisted Matteo Jorgenson was exactly where he needed to be in the decisive moment of Stage 2 at Tirreno-Adriatico, even if a crash on the gravel ultimately denied the American the chance to follow the move that decided the race.

The stage exploded on the wet Tuscan sterrato when Mathieu van der Poel launched the attack that split the peloton. Isaac del Toro and Giulio Pellizzari were eventually able to bridge across to the Dutchman before the trio fought out the stage win in San Gimignano.

Jorgenson had been among the riders reacting to the move when the conditions caught him out on the slippery gravel.

“Matteo was where he wanted to be and was one of the few riders who could keep up with Mathieu,” sports director Jesper Morkov said afterwards in comments released by Team Visma | Lease a Bike.

The American had anticipated the move that would split the race and was positioned near the front of the peloton as the riders hit the gravel sector that ultimately decided the stage.

But while chasing Van der Poel’s acceleration, Jorgenson slid out in a corner on the slick surface. “Unfortunately, Matteo lost grip and slid out in the corner,” Morkov explained. “That was a real shame.”

With the leading trio quickly opening a gap, Visma’s focus immediately shifted toward limiting losses in the general classification. “After that, it was a matter of trying to limit the damage,” Morkov said.

Wout van Aert played a key role in that effort behind the leaders as the race approached the finish.

The Belgian took responsibility for setting the pace in the chasing group in an attempt to keep the gap under control after the decisive move had already formed ahead. “Wout did a great job of keeping the gap to the leaders as small as possible,” Morkov said.

Despite the crash setback, Visma remain positive about Jorgenson’s position in the race. “Matteo is in seventh place in the GC at 31 seconds from Del Toro, so anything is still possible,” Morkov added.

Beyond the crash itself, the team were encouraged by how the race had unfolded for them throughout the stage before the decisive gravel sector.

“Compliments to the men. They rode a good race,” Morkov said. “Steven took the lead of the peloton during the day, while Tim, Filippo and Owain ensured that we started the gravel section in a good position.”

Even if the final result did not match the team’s ambitions, Visma’s reaction suggested they remain confident the race is still wide open for their American leader as Tirreno-Adriatico continues through the Italian hills.