It's 2017. A young Californian splits his day in two: in the morning, he pedals for hours on the long roads around Walnut Creek, his hometown. In the afternoon, he spends hours on the computer, sending emails to all the European professional teams he's found on Google. "Hi, my name is Matteo. Jorgenson I'm an 18-year-old American, racing my last year of junior with Hot Tubes Cycling and the USA Junior National Program. I'm very interested in racing for you in 2018." His work is meticulous: each email is personalized, based on the characteristics of the team, the calendar, the feelings it arouses in him.It takes him at least an hour to send one, because he studies it thoroughly. He uses online translators or seeks advice from those who speak other languages. He sends ten, a hundred, and even many more. Because he knows that real cycling is in Europe, and he wants to escape…
The story of Matteo Jorgenson, one of the emerging Americans who impressed many insiders at the last Tour, cannot be understood without retracing the course of his last years, because he has invested everything in this activity since he was very young. Waiting for a valid answer, other than the usual "we'll let you know," Matteo waits. His great hope is to reach theHagen's Berman Axeon, through which many Americans have passed, but the response he receives chills him. The door is closed, or rather, locked. Matteo doesn't lose heart: someone will answer, but in the meantime there is a solution to be found and the Californian finds it by accepting the American team's proposal. Jelly Belly-Maxxis provided he finds a place in the Under 23 national team group and is able to spend the first part of the season in the Old Continent.
The response from France
One thing Jorgenson learned early on: «Every race in Europe is worth more than 10 in the US. All races are different, they change depending on the country, the roads, the people, the routes.You learn so much every time, it's like going to school. It's a completely different sport." The American is perfectly aware that overseas cycling is nothing compared to events that, while they put on a show for people between a hot dog and a beer, technically they don't transmit anything.
One day the turning point comes. In the email he finds a reply, from France, from Chambery CF, team that is part of the network ofAG2R La MondialeHe manages to speak to the manager, with great difficulty due to the language difference (and this is an aspect we will return to), and they arrange to meet again. The French team wants to know more, wants his power readings, all his training data. Finally, the offer arrives: a contract for 2019 on the condition that he moves to France at the beginning of the year. A proposal that seems like a sign, because at the same time, USA Cycling announced that due to budget constraints, its riders would no longer be able to compete in Europe starting next season. Just in time...
Polyglot by necessity…
Matteo has realized that to stand out in Europe, it's not enough to just pedal, train, and suffer on the bike. He really has to challenge himself. He'll move to France, but first he'll have to learn the language: "I can't leave and then face journeys lasting hours without being able to speak, communicate freely, I can't force others to speak my languageJorgenson studies intensively and by the following winter he is already speaking fluent French, not only to the point of being able to hold a conversation with his classmates, but also to be interviewed. And he will do the same later, when he moves to Movistar in Spain.
From a cycling perspective, the French quickly realized that the boy with the stars and stripes knew what he was doing. He often placed, even in Italy at the Edil Trophy, and fought for the final victory at the Ronde de l'Izoard and at the Tour de l'Avenir he conquers the points classification. He is strong on the pace and on the climbs and this fact does not escape the attention of the Spanish team leaders, who interrupt his climb within the transalpine team and take him beyond the Pyrenees, because there is always a need for a climber in those parts.It had been over thirty years since an American had worn that jersey, the last one being Andy Hampstead, for a short period when the team was still under the Banesto brand.
Focus everything on the Tour
Jorgenson continues his rise, he is very young but above all he is American and For an American, cycling has only one synonym: Tour de FranceIn 2021, when he was told that he would not be part of the team for the Grande Boucle, he was disappointed and this also affected his performance at the Giro d'Italia («It was my worst experience, I didn't have any more and it wasn't for me. – he will later state – I understood that if I don't take some time off at the beginning of spring, I can't be competitive for the Tour").
This year, taking his time, he earns the stripes of lieutenant for Enric a Mas (typical old farm) at the Tour. He's over the moon and, above all, his legs feel full and toned. These are three very intense weeks, during which he often gets into breakaways. Jorgenson comes close to the podium twice, and when he arrives, the disappointment is huge. In Megeve, perhaps with that Cort Nielsen there was little to do, a Foix Instead, as soon as he arrives, he goes towards the bus, puts down his bike and sits with his head in his hands, barely holding back the tears for the missed opportunity.The managers arrive and find him tired and bloodied: an image hard to forget.
Tears of anger
«I don't think I made a mistake – he says – it was the last chance and I gambled everything, but Woods I had Houle in front of me, no one could help me. On the way down I risked everything and I even fell, but if you take risks you have to accept it and I didn't even feel the pain.When the Canadian left I was in the car getting my water bottle, I didn't even notice and when I found out I went hunting, but it was late." "Where does it hurt, where did you crash?" they ask him. "It hurts not to be there," he replies, pointing to the podium.
Later, when journalists asked him about his 21st place, part of the “Usa Connection” which characterized the Tour ranking with 4 athletes among the first, Jorgenson will demonstrate that he has not yet digested the disappointment: «When you arrive and you know you're in shape, that you've got everything right, you're not just watching and thinking about the future, you want everything. I'll try again next year, but while the physical wounds will heal quickly, the ones in my soul will take much longer."
His smile returns only when someone reminds him of his story, of the courage he had in taking a risk and trying to establish a digital link with Europe: «I tell many kids who contact me to try right away, as soon as they graduate to junior, to contact as many clubs as possible and pack their bags, even if you don't have any results yet. I think I've shown a way to relaunch our cycling, even if they thought I was crazy."
