Who can challenge the Visma block? Jorgenson dreams of overall victory with Vingegaard by his side
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Follow us on GoogleA challenging week lies ahead for Matteo Jorgenson. The American rider, who made his presence felt multiple times during the Belgian opening weekend but couldn’t convert it into a top result, enters Paris-Nice with a lot of confidence. And rightly so—last year, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider secured an impressive victory in the WorldTour stage race. On the Paris-Nice website, Jorgenson looks ahead to the race.
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"I’m happy I made it through the opening weekend," the American begins. "I had a really good feeling and was able to show myself well in both races. But I think we, as a team, still have steps to take leading up to the cobbled classics, with our main objective, of course, being the Holy Week. However, my focus now shifts first to Paris-Nice."
For Jorgenson, the 'Race to the Sun' will be his only stage race of the spring, as he primarily focuses on the cobbled classics. "My training buildup to the important races is basically the same as last year. They say if something works, don’t change it. Last year went really well, and I also picked up some great victories. But more than anything, I just really enjoyed racing in the spring."
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Jorgenson won Dwars door Vlaanderen last year
Opening weekend is the ideal preparation for Jorgenson ahead of Paris-Nice
"The preparation is basically the same as for the spring classics," continues the Dwars door Vlaanderen winner. "The opening weekend was also very useful in preparing for Paris-Nice. It’s going to be a real fitness test, especially in the final days when there’s a lot of climbing. I’m really looking forward to seeing how far I can go."
Last year, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider made a strong impression by winning the overall classification, finishing ahead of Remco Evenepoel, among others. "It was truly a special moment, definitely the highlight of my year. The race was close to my home, and I know every turn of the course by heart. I’m really excited to return and pin on the number one bib."
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Jorgenson with overall victory in Paris-Nice
Jorgenson hopes to win again in Paris-Nice
But is it realistic for Jorgenson to win Paris-Nice for the second time? His teammate Jonas Vingegaard will also be at the start, and the Dane has already shown strong form in Portugal. "My goal is to win Paris-Nice. I have only good memories of this race. It’s my favorite race on the calendar and, for me personally, one of the biggest races," the American concluded.
Jorgenson also spoke about his close relationship with Vingegaard. "Jonas and I get along really well," he continued. "We’re good friends and share the same mentality in both racing and training. I think we’ll be able to work together very well in Paris-Nice and won’t be each other’s biggest rivals. Besides, in the Race to the Sun, anything can happen. It’s not over until we reach Nice," the American concluded.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026