"The role I got is fun" - Matteo Jorgenson to hunt stage wins at Tour de France, not focus on GC

Movistar come to the Tour de France backing Enric Mas, however it is very likely that several riders within the team will get freedom to chase stage wins. Matteo Jorgenson will be among those, after a brilliant spring the American is ready to race his second Tour but with much higher ambitions.

"The team leader is clear I have to assist Enric Mas in the mountains. A place on the final podium is the most important goal of the team. And as long as Enric is in good shape, I will help him during the most selective stages," Jorgenson told In de Leiderstrui. "The team management would like me to be the last man before Enric, especially when there are few riders left and it also comes down to tactics. I didn't progress with great leaps, but slowly but surely continued to develop. I have constantly improved and have regularly shown a high level this year."

Jorgenson has won the Tour of Oman, finished second at the Tour de Romandie, eighth at Paris-Nice, but has also had a breakthrough in the cobbled classics as he rode into fourth place at the E3 Saxo Classic and ninth at the Tour of Flanders. Exceptional consistency and quality on several different terrains, it comes as no surprise that the 23-year old will be given some freedom in what is perhaps his biggest goal of the year. As Enric Mas struggled with illness at the Criterium du Dauphiné, at the time being the odds are in favour of a free role throughout the three weeks.

“The role I got is fun. Moreover, it is a position in which I still have to and can improve myself. You need to know when you can save and how you can best help the leader," he concludes. "Fulfilling this role now will certainly help me in the future. I'm looking forward to challenging myself in the Tour. It's no problem if I lose some time early in the race."