Matteo Jorgenson's Grand Ambition: Leading Visma at the Grand Tours
Matteo Jorgenson's journey with Team Visma | Lease a Bike has been nothing short of remarkable. He's not just racking up impressive wins; he's also proven to be an incredibly versatile rider and a key support for Jonas Vingegaard. But now, Jorgenson is setting his sights on a new goal: leading his own team in the Grand Tours starting from 2026.
"If you asked me 12 months ago, I would have said I really want to win a Grand Tour, and I think last year has provided another reality check to make me think if that is really realistic," Jorgenson shared in a video.
This is a rider who has evolved significantly since joining the team. He's already a two-time Paris-Nice champion, with a victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen, a podium finish at the Criterium du Dauphiné, and top-10 finishes at both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, even while primarily supporting Vingegaard. He recently completed two consecutive three-week races, showcasing his strong form in both the Tour and Vuelta, although his Tour GC run was impacted by illness in the second week.
And this is where he wants to evolve: “If I do want to win a Grand Tour in the future, then I do need to make strides in that direction. I just want to focus one way or another at this point. I have these four years where I can go down a path really far. With the team, I just have to decide what that is.”
Grand Tours in Focus
The American's program, which will be revealed at Visma's media day in Spain, will likely include the cobbled classics again next spring, where he has performed well in the past two seasons. However, he might adjust his schedule to focus more on stage races. Jorgenson views Grand Tours as the pinnacle of cycling, though he acknowledges the challenge: "I really don’t know if it’s possible and that kind of weighs on my mind, but I’m told by the performance team and the people around me that it is possible and they believe in it, so that helps me believe".
Paris-Nice is likely on his schedule as it's a 'home' race for him, and he is the two-time current champion, but the calendar provides plenty other opportunities for top riders to perform in the one-week races. As he should build towards the Tour de France, the American should be quite busy in the spring.
With Jonas Vingegaard expected to compete in both the Giro and the Tour, and with Simon Yates retiring from the team, Jorgenson could potentially lead at the Vuelta a España. He's clearly keen on the opportunity: “I think in the future, I’d like to. I don’t know if it will be this year or when, but I would like to try to do one as a leader. It might never work out but it would be nice to try. It is a dream for sure.”
A Commitment to the Future
Jorgenson recently signed a new contract with Visma, extending his commitment until 2029. This long-term deal provides stability for the team across various terrains. "I needed to feel sustainable in this job that I could do it at this level for four more years before I signed a piece of paper that was committing myself to doing that. It took me a long time to actually agree to my extension. I think it was proposed to me early in the year and it took me months to feel right about it".
He seems to have found the perfect balance, becoming a crucial part of the Dutch team since joining in 2024, and he's set to remain a key figure in the coming years.
“It takes a lot of sacrifice to be a cyclist. I was very aware of that this year, of how much I’m giving up in other parts of my life, and I wanted to feel right with that. It felt like a huge moment when I signed the piece of paper. It makes me really happy to have gone through that process in my head, working through my life, and now I have a long-term commitment," he concluded.
But here's where it gets interesting... Could Jorgenson realistically contend for a Grand Tour victory? What do you think of his chances? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
