Norwegian talent Jørgen Nordhagen about his next steps with Jumbo-Visma: "I'll take it step by step and see where it ends"

He would have preferred to end his 2023 cycling season better, but the smile did not disappear from Jørgen Nordhagen's face on Saturday morning. The 18-year-old Norwegian did not finish the European Championships after an early crash in the road race won by Slovenian Anze Ravbar.

Nordhagen did not fall hard on Saturday, but those who fall behind on the lap around the VAM-berg often do not make up for it. "I didn't have much trouble, but it took a minute to get another bike. Then my race was already lost. I rode to the finish, dressed my wounds and then quietly watched the final," said the top talent in conversation with In de Leiderstrui.

"It was a good season, from the start actually. My big goal as a GC rider and climber was to be good in the Nations' Cup competitions and I won two of them," he said, referring to overall victories in Eroica in Italy and Course de la Paix in the Czech Republic. "With silver in the European Championship time trial, I am satisfied with my year."

The young Norwegian is heading to Jumbo-Visma development team before joining the WT team in 2025. However he is not yet thinking about training with the WorldTour boys. "I will train with the training team and will only do half a season anyway. I'll ski first and then we'll see how it goes. If the legs are good, you can take the next step, but for now I'll take it step by step and see where it ends."