Looking back, after four seasons with the Movistar team, Matteo Jorgenson, eager to fully explore his potential, decided to seek new horizons. The 24-year-old American cyclist formalized a three-season partnership with Jumbo-Visma. In this new chapter, his primary focus will be to support the team leaders, relegating the pursuit of individual victories to a secondary role.
Recognized as one of the standout talents in the peloton, Jorgenson shone in the current season by securing a stage win and the general classification at the Tour of Oman. His presence did not go unnoticed, with a ninth-place finish in the Tour of Flanders and an impressive second place in the overall classification of the Tour de Romandie, won by Adam Yates. However, the pinnacle of his performance in 2023 was the victory in the mountains of Puy de Dome during the Tour de France.
Career Ascension
In a conversation with the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Jorgenson shared his journey since the beginning of his professional career in Europe when he joined the Movistar team in 2020. During that season, he experienced a notable breakthrough, investing his entire salary in improving his skills. “I spent every penny of my salary on my development this year,” the cyclist revealed.
“I trained intensely for three months at high altitudes, hired a personal trainer and a nutritionist, and invested in time trial equipment. It cost a lot of money, but it was worth every penny.”
Team Dispute and New Perspective
After a fierce competition among several teams, including Soudal Quickstep, Jumbo-Visma finally secured the commitment of the American cyclist. A choice that may surprise some, as in Richard Plugge’s team, Jorgenson won’t have the role of captain. “I know there are criticisms, but I just wanted to integrate into the team where I believe I can reach the highest level. I prefer to be part of a winning team than to finish sixth or eighth.”
Wout van Aert will have a valuable ally in the spring classics of the upcoming season, as Jorgenson expresses his enthusiasm to assist his teammate in winning Paris-Roubaix. “I’ve already talked to Wout during the Tour. I told him I would love to help him win Paris-Roubaix,” shares Matteo Jorgenson, anticipating a promising partnership on the road.