American cyclist Matteo Jorgenson claimed victory in the prestigious Paris-Nice stage race for the first time on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who rides for the Visma–Lease team and resides in Nice, secured the most significant win of his career after previously triumphing in the Tour of Oman last year.
Jorgenson expressed his surprise and joy at his unexpected win, stating, 'To be honest, I never expected to win Paris-Nice. Until this year, I never thought it was possible. But here we are.' He also shared his nerves and pressure leading up to the race, especially when competing alongside renowned cyclist Remco Evenepoel.
In the final stage of the race, Evenepoel clinched victory by out-sprinting Jorgenson in a hilly 109-kilometer trek that started and ended in Nice on France's Côte d’Azur. Both riders finished with the same time, with Russian cyclist Aleksandr Vlasov coming in third, 50 seconds behind.
Jorgenson, humbled by his win, emphasized the need to stay grounded despite his success, saying, 'I’m not going to get ahead of myself. It’s already a great achievement in my life. I will now try to enjoy it and keep my feet on the ground.'
Overall, Jorgenson finished 30 seconds ahead of Evenepoel and 1 minute, 47 seconds clear of his childhood friend Brandon McNulty, who had led the race overnight. Evenepoel praised Jorgenson for his performance during the challenging climbs, acknowledging him as the deserving winner of the race.
McNulty, who finished fifth in the final stage, completed the podium with a strong overall performance in the race.
Matteo Jorgenson's victory at Paris-Nice marks a significant milestone in his cycling career, solidifying his position among the sport's elite riders.
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