On Sunday, Maastricht will host the start of the 60th edition of the Amstel Gold Race. After 260 kilometers and 33 climbs, the race will be decided in Valkenburg. Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s lineup is led by Jorgenson. The 26-year-old American has chosen a different approach this spring, focusing fully on the Ardennes Classics for the first time.

“The Amstel Gold Race is a challenging but beautiful classic,” says Jorgenson. “My spring has gone flawlessly so far and I feel good. Right now I’m exactly where I want to be. My goal was to start the Ardennes Classics in good shape and in good health, and I’ve achieved that. I opted for a different race calendar, and it’s working well for me. That new approach, with the Italian races, gave me a fresh boost. I’ve gained new experiences that I can carry into these important races.”  

“On Sunday, the climbs come one after another, which makes the race so tough. It’s the kind of race that suits riders like me, where I can show my strengths. The motivation within the team is high to fight for the win. I’ve been building toward this period for a long time, and I’m happy it’s finally here,” Jorgenson added.  

Frans Maassen will be behind the wheel of the team car on Sunday. The Dutchman won his home race in 1991 and is looking forward to the upcoming edition. “It remains a special race for me,” says Maassen. “It’s the biggest race in the Netherlands, and the tension always builds in the days leading up to it. We all enjoyed Wout van Aert’s victory in Paris-Roubaix. It would be great to carry that momentum into this special week for the team.”  

“We have a team capable of competing for the win,” Maassen continued. “Matteo has prepared well for this phase of the season and is motivated to make an impact. He’ll be supported by a strong group of riders. It remains to be seen how well Ben Tulett has recovered from his crash in Itzulia Basque Country. The Amstel Gold Race course suits him well, so he can certainly play an important role too.”