Jorgenson targets Ardennes impact as Amstel Gold Race opens new chapter
After the cobbled classics, the focus shifts to the Ardennes, with the Amstel Gold Race kicking off a new phase of the season. For Matteo Jorgenson, it marks the start of a campaign he has specifically built towards.
The American leads Team Visma | Lease a Bike in the Dutch classic, marking the start of his Ardennes campaign after deliberately reshaping his spring.
Since joining the team in 2024, his development has been closely tied to the Flemish Classics, highlighted by victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen. This year, however, the 26-year-old has taken a different approach, shifting his focus to the Ardennes Classics and arriving at Amstel fresh and well prepared.
“My spring has gone flawlessly so far and I feel good,” Jorgenson said on the website of the team. “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.”
Starting in Maastricht and finishing in Valkenburg, the Amstel Gold Race offers a relentless sequence of climbs rather than the brute force of the northern Classics. It is a profile that Jorgenson believes suits him.
“On Sunday, the climbs come one after another, which makes the race so tough,” he said. “It’s the kind of race that suits riders like me, where I can show my strengths.”
His preparation has also followed a different path this season, with a block of racing in Italy, including Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo, providing what he describes as a fresh stimulus.
“I opted for a different race calendar, and it’s working well for me. That new approach gave me a fresh boost and new experiences that I can carry into these important races.”
Inside the team, confidence remains high following Wout Van Aert’s recent victory at Paris-Roubaix, and sports director Frans Maassen is hopeful that momentum can carry into the Ardennes.
“It’s the biggest race in the Netherlands, and the tension always builds in the days leading up to it,” Maassen said. “We all enjoyed that victory in Roubaix. It would be great to carry that momentum into this week.”
Maassen believes the team has the depth to contend, with Jorgenson supported by a strong group.
“We have a team capable of competing for the win,” he said. “Matteo has prepared well for this phase of the season and is motivated to make an impact.”
For Jorgenson, it will be his second appearance at the Amstel Gold Race, having finished 37th on his debut in 2024.
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