Evenepoel and Roglič upstaged by Jorgenson at Paris-Nice

The Race to the Sun was won by an American, Matteo Jorgenson, for the first time in 18 years, as the favourites missed out, 

- Adam Becket

The last time an American won Paris-Nice, Matteo Jorgenson was six. Eighteen years on and the Visma-Lease a Bike rider won the biggest race of his career in just his third event with his new team.

The 24-year-old admitted that he was not looking to win Paris-Nice ahead of the event, but thanks to consistent riding all week, combined with making the right moves on stages six, seven and eight, the man from Idaho swapped one yellow jersey for another come the end in Nice. Helpfully, it’s where he lives when in Europe, so it was on home roads where he claimed the race win.

Jorgenson’s win was hardly a surprise – he does ride for Visma-Lease a Bike after all, the team which won every Grand Tour last year – but he has clearly already improved since his move from Movistar in the off-season. Having lost Primož Roglič to Bora-Hansgrohe, the Dutch squad appear to have a capable GC rider ready to take his place already.

Stepping up

“I have made a step. I wouldn’t say it’s some crazy step. But in this team, they really just look after every single detail,” he said. “There’s really nothing that we’re doing that no other team is doing, but I think we’re doing every single detail to the maximum. They have the mindset of performance first in every single regard – our nutrition, travel and management.