Boise High grad becomes first American cyclist to win back-to-back Paris-Nice titles
Matteo Jorgenson has every reason to continue to dream big.
The Boise High graduate won his second straight Paris-Nice cycling race Sunday for Visma-Lease a Bike, becoming the first American to do so.
Now Jorgenson is ready to “set the bar higher.”
On the heels of an eighth-place finish in the Tour de France last summer — the best showing by an American in a decade — a win at Dwars door Vlaanderen and a runner-up finish at the Critérium du Dauphiné, Jorgenson has set his sights on competing for a Grand Tour.
“It was something that I have thought about a lot during the offseason,” Jorgenson told CyclingWeekly.com. “Because last year the team asked me if it was something I wanted, to race a Grand Tour as leader. And yes, it is something in my career that now is a goal.
“I think before, it was one of those goals that seemed almost impossible. I never thought I could win Paris-Nice and now I’ve won twice. Now it’s time to set the bar higher. I can’t say that I’m capable of winning a Grand Tour, but at least I want to try. I want to work towards that.”
Paris-Nice, which has been held annually since 1933, is a week-long race, while a Grand Tour — the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España — are contested over three weeks.
“You saw it everywhere last year,” Visma-Lease a Bike coach Frans Maasens said. “I think he did some great efforts in the Tour and showed that he can ride the Classics. Of course, it was a big disappointment with the crash of (teammate) Jonas (Vingegaard), but it also makes it a bit easier that you then have one leader. I think everyone has seen that Matteo was the best rider in the race.
“Definitely he can play a bigger role in Grand Tours. But winning the Tour, I don’t say that, but he’s a very good, very talented rider and we will see much more from him in the next few years.”
Next on Jorgenson’s schedule are the E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars door Vlaanderen and Tour of Flanders, according to Velo.com.
