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OUDENAARDE, Belgium (Velo) — Matteo Jorgenson rolled to a stop at the Tour of Flanders finish line Sunday with nothing left to give and little to show for his efforts.
The 25-year-old buried himself Sunday in his parting shot of the northern classics, but admitted he didn’t have diamonds in his legs to try to match the magic from Tadej Pogačar.
“Empty. Very empty,” he told Velo. “I am feeling empty. I completely came apart in the last 10km. I am empty in the legs, but I am happy how the team rode and how we made the race.”
That’s been the tone of Visma-Lease a Bike’s spring that’s been filled with big efforts, near misses, and a few high-profile misfires.
Sunday’s bruising Ronde was the latest chapter in a classics campaign that’s yet to yield a win in a major one-day race.
Matthew Brennan’s win at the semi-classic GP Denain is the lone “W” this spring so far.
‘We were all on the limit’
Still reeling from Wednesday’s tactical face-palm at Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Dutch powerhouse came into Flanders ready to leave a mark.
This time the “Killer Bees” rode a near-perfect tactical race, and there’s nothing the armchair sports directors can criticize.
Tiesj Benoot slid into an early move and hung on for sixth. Wout van Aert clawed his way to fourth, reminding everyone he’s still a force in what’s been a snakebitten spring.
Jorgenson said he was proud of the team effort, even if he admitted he was hoping for more for himself.
Also read: Is Jorgenson America’s next Tour de France winner?
“We were just all on the limit and the strongest rider won today,” Jorgenson said. “We did the best we could. I was just going as long as I could and trying to follow and do my best. I think we used the team best we could.”
Jorgenson was covering moves and yo-yoing between groups, and finally lost contact for good on the Oude Kwaremont.
Coming home in 47th wasn’t the ending he was hoping for.
Expecting more in move up hierarchy
Jorgenson roared into this spring classics campaign full of ambition and confidence.
After his breakout win at the 2024 Dwars as part of his hugely successful season, the Idahoan moved up the pecking order inside the Visma bus and started as co-captain with superstar Van Aert.
Joining Van Aert at the pre-Flanders press conference confirmed his new status within the team bus.
A rough and tumble “Opening Weekend” was soon glossed over by a dominant and near-flawless title defense at Paris-Nice.
The classics campaign was something else.
“It wasn’t the best classics season for me, personally,” he told Velo. “I really wanted to win one of these races. It didn’t happen this year.”
Thoughts on Matteo Jorgenson’s retro fashion choice??? We’re vibing with it https://t.co/bb8JhgrP6m pic.twitter.com/E6YP3froV9
— Velo (@velovelovelo__) March 31, 2025
‘I just ran out of gas’
He opened his cobbled campaign with 52nd at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and 66th at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in an “Opening Weekend” that saw the Killer Bees missing its trademark sting.
The bite was back last month, and Jorgenson posted steady results, with nineth at E3 Saxo Classic, fourth at Dwars door Vlaanderen, and 30th at Gent-Wevelgem in what was a surprise call-up to race the long, sprint-friendly classic.
All that boded well, and Jorgenson wanted to go out with a bang Sunday.
“I think it’s a monument issue. I just ran out of gas,” he told Velo. “I did too many efforts trying to follow the big boys.”
Still, the American isn’t pressing the panic button. There’s a lot more to come.
“I am done now. I go on vacation,” he said, confirming he will not race Paris-Roubaix or the Ardennes classics.
“It’s OK. I am happy with how I rode, and I gave my best in every single race,” he said.
Jorgenson will hit reset before building toward the Critérium du Dauphiné, where he finished second last year, and then return to the Tour de France.
The road always tilts upward, and Jorgenson is confident he’ll be back at the front.
