Ambitious Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Jorgenson look forward to challenging Paris - Nice edition
It was as if he had always ridden for Team Visma-Lease a Bike. This is how Matteo Jorgensen experienced his first weekend in the yellow and black of his new team. The American contributed to the Dutch team's double on the opening weekend. Next week, Jorgenson hopes to add to his tally at Paris-Nice. "This team is the environment I've been looking for all these years”, he says.
Jorgenson, 24, feels good about his first few months with the team. "I can say everything is going as well as I could have imagined. The training camp in Tenerife was really nice and I feel like I fit in with this team 100%. It’s what I was looking for, an environment where I can reach my highest level and enjoy doing it. My first two races truly exceeded my expectations. I have never been part of such a strong team that was capable of executing a plan so thoroughly. The races went how we decided them. To say I enjoyed the weekend would be and understatement."
Jorgenson's superlatives are music to the ears of sports director Marc Reef. "Matteo fits in well with the culture of our team. He is a pretty quiet guy. He is very driven and focused and knows exactly what it takes to get the best out of himself. He's a pleasure to work with. The opening weekend proved that”, says Reef.
"At Paris-Nice, I want to take the next step as a GC rider”, the ambitious American says. "I have twice finished eighth in the final standings here. I hope to do better this year. I am secretly aiming for a top-five finish, but that does not mean I will be dissatisfied with a top-ten result. A stage win is also high on the wish list."
The route of the upcoming Race to the Sun is varied. "And that suits Matteo”, Reef says. "He is a versatile rider. In the first two stages, we will look for sprint success with Olav Kooij. The third day will be a team time trial. We have good memories of that. We hope to give Matteo and others a good starting position on that day because stage four is the first GC stage. We want to fight for victory in this edition of Paris-Nice."
"I have never been part of such a strong team"
Stage five is likely to end in another sprint. "We have a top sprinter in Olav. I see some chances for him. Recently, I have seen Olav go wild in Almería and at the UAE Tour. That's why I believe in his chances. I'm looking forward to watching that from the front row."
"The final weekend is always tough", acknowledges Matty J, as his nickname goes.
"It is where the final standings are decided. It is important to do well there. I have been looking forward to the final stage in and around Nice for a long time. The finish line is within walking distance of my home. It would be great to return home satisfied after this edition of Paris-Nice."
Line-up Team Visma | Lease a Bike Parijs - Nice: Matteo Jorgenson, Olav Kooij, Wilco Kelderman, Edoardo Affini, Koen Bouwman, Mick van Dijke & Tim van Dijke.
Sport directors: Marc Reef & Frans Maassen.
