Nordhagen put in the same room as Vingegaard by Visma | LaB ahead of his "first full year as a cyclist"

Until last year, Nordhagen combined road cycling with cross-country skiing, yet for years he’s been touted as one of the future talents within Visma | Lease a Bike. Last year, he already got a small taste of top-level racing, but he says that now it’s really starting. “It’s wonderful to be with the team. We can finally begin, and I’m really looking forward to it. I already knew some of these guys from TV, but now I’m riding alongside them and can learn as much as possible from them.”

“Of course you look up to Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert, because they’re the big stars. It’s been very impressive to watch them race in recent years, and now I’m on their team, which is really special. I want to learn as much as I can from them, but that also goes for several other guys—there’s always someone who can help,” the friendly Viking said.

The Norwegian then pointed out the biggest differences from Visma | Lease a Bike’s development squad, for which he only raced one year. “I feel like they want you to become as good as possible, and there’s no turning back. That’s a great mindset, and hopefully it will pay off.”

At the Dutch team, they’re already looking to the future. “I’m rooming with Jonas, so I can always ask him questions. That’s good for me,” he says. “One of the first things we talked about was how he felt when he joined the team. He was in a similar situation, so we discussed that. In a few years, he’s grown into one of the best GC riders,” he adds, aware of his leader’s path.

So what are Nordhagen’s goals, after finishing seventh in last year’s Lidl Deutschland Tour? “2024 was good, despite some ups and downs. I made progress and I’m happy with that. I got some nice wins, but in the end, it’s really about the good memories, too. It was my first year as a full-time pro, but I still didn’t have the right preparation because I was mixing in cross-country skiing during the winter. So this coming season will actually be my first serious year as a full-time cyclist, and I’m curious about the impact of that.” The young Norwegian will kick off his new season at the Tour of Oman on February 8.

“Now it’s all about getting into the rhythm and getting to know everyone. There’s still a lot to learn. First, I want to build my foundation, then we’ll see what’s possible. Learning the system is important, so that’s my main focus for now. It’ll be my first year with the WorldTour team, so I especially want to keep improving my endurance,” he explains. “I also want to learn as much as I can from my teammates. If I can earn my place in the WorldTour, I’ll be satisfied. My schedule will be a mix of chasing my own opportunities and helping the team’s top riders, which is ideal. Winning would be nice, but learning is the most important thing.”

Finally, does the stoic Norwegian sense any external expectations? “To be honest, I don’t feel much pressure. I focus on myself and my development, and I put pressure on myself that way, but otherwise, it’s mainly about enjoying the racing and getting as good as possible,” he says in a levelheaded manner.