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Jørgen Nordhagen (19) will ride for the world’s best cycling team next season. Now he is being compared to one of cycling’s biggest stars.
– If Jørgen has the potential to reach the level of Jonas Vingegaard? He has that potential without a doubt, says Grischa Niermann in Belgian Wheeler Revue.
He sports director at Visma-Lease a Bike, the team Vingegaard has won the Tour de France with twice. It is also the team for Norwegian Jørgen Nordhagen.
Grischa Niermann
Has been sports director at Visma for the past seven years. Was a professional cyclist for 16 years. Has admitted to doping.
Niermann believes that Nordhagen is further along in his development as a cyclist than Jonas Vingegaard was at the same age.
– But yes, you only find a Jonas once every hundred years, he adds.
– It’s cool and inspiring to hear that they have faith and think the top level can be good, but there are many factors that have to work – and many who have been good at my age have had it hard over time.
That’s what Jørgen Nordhagen tells VG when he hears the sports manager’s characteristics about himself.
Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar are the two best overall riders in the world. They have shared the Tour de France triumph between them for the last four seasons.
– He is at a completely sick level. It takes a lot to go from a good World Tour climber to the level he has, says Nordhagen.
The coming season is Nordhagen’s first as a professional cyclist at the highest level. This season, the teenager has cycled for Visma’s development team. Niermann urges patience.
– He’s on the right track, but he’s also not a Remco Evenepoel type that we expect to hit in San Sebastián in his first year, explains Niermann.
Nordhagen is satisfied with not having pressure on itself to deliver from the first step in the top cycling elite.
– Well, I’ve talked to them for a long time, and signed when I was 17, so I’m in regular contact. It has always been a project to work steadily, instead of taking risks to take the big steps, explains Nordhagen, who says he is in regular contact with Niermann.
The young Norwegian cycling hope has gradually taken the step into the top team at Visma. This fall, he got to try his hand in Germany against elite opposition.
– It was cool and cool. You notice more attention to the whole thing. You notice that it is bigger, says Nordhagen, who was number seven overall in the race.
In December, Nordhagen’s first meeting with the Dutch big team awaits, but the nerves are in check before the new day.
– Now it will be cool to see that you train with the very best. You are allowed to do the little extra to see how good it can be, continues the teenager.
He also has the opportunity to step down to the development team if it would be expedient. It provides extra security.
– I’m not stressed about not taking the level, but it is possible to adjust a little. In this way, I’m not nervous about what’s to come, concludes the strong climbing cyclist.
Until this winter, Nordhagen has also invested in cross-country skiing. In February, he crushed the world elite at 20 km in the Junior World Championships – before retiring as a cross-country runner.
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