Visma-Lease a Bike has a new world champion. Surprisingly, the feat did not come from cycling, but from Cross-Country Skiing. Jørgen Nordhagen, who was hired at the end of 2023, with Team NTG/ Uno X (Norway), won first place in the 20 km race at the World Championship held in Planica, Slovenia.
Nordhagen, just 19 years old, won the race that lasted more than 47 minutes, reaching the finish line alone in the snow of Planica. Celebrating exultantly with the Norwegian flag, the athlete managed to open up such a large margin that the following competitors, both Italians, finished the race more than two minutes after the young Norwegian
New talent in the making
Later this year, Nordhagen will make his debut on the Visma-Lease a Bike development team. From 2025, he will start working for WorldTeam, with a contract signed until the end of 2027.
In his CV of achievements as a young athlete, Nordhagen already records first place in the Vredeskoers (Peace Race) in the Czech Republic, in the Eroica Nations Cup and in the Norwegian Time Trial Championship.
Furthermore, the young man achieved top 6 positions in the World Road Cycling Championship, the World Time Trial Cycling Championship and the European Time Trial Championship in his respective category.
Watch the moment of conquest
Transition to cycling
Nordhagen was already showing clear signs of his intention to transition to cycling and has already expressed his enthusiasm about the transfer to Visma-Lease a Bike. “I trust their approach” said the young world champion. Nordhagen’s arrival in professional cycling will be eagerly awaited, given his display of talent and determination in the Cross-Country championship.