Il Lombardia, also known as the Race of the Falling Leaves, is rich in cycling history but has yet to be conquered by Team Visma | Lease a Bike. This Saturday, the peloton will set off from Bergamo, Italy, and after more than 250 kilometers, finish in Como. Along the way, riders will tackle seven challenging climbs.

Jorgenson is aiming high for Saturday, but keeps a realistic mindset. “In general, I like to be a realist while still aiming high. We don’t have the top favorite on our team, and we have to be honest about that. Still, speaking for myself, I’m ambitious. I believe a top 5 finish is within reach. Winning will be tough, but the race still has to be ridden," says the 25-year-old Jorgenson.

His thoughts are echoed by sports director Reef. “We haven't secured a podium result in a Monument this year, and that's something we're really aiming for on Saturday. In races like the Giro dell’Emilia and the Coppa Bernocchi, we showed strong teamwork. Bart Lemmen even came close to victory in the latter. While we don’t have the absolute favorite for the win this time, we do have a well-rounded and strong team with Matteo, Bart, Wilco Kelderman, and Tiesj Benoot. We're definitely a team to keep an eye on. We'll assess our chances and fully commit during the race.”

"Lombardy is always a huge day on the bike," Jorgenson notes, "and it demands a lot of willingness to suffer, even just to finish. The race is quite honest and tactically straightforward. The results at the finish usually reflect exactly how strong your legs were on the day."

After taking a short break following the Tour de France and the Olympics, Jorgenson has shown solid form in recent races in Canada and Italy. “Personally, I think me and the team have managed my race calendar quite well this year, and I still have something left to give mentally. I'm not at the same level physically as I was during the summer, but I believe I can still play a role in the final of the race on Saturday."

“The Tour of Lombardy is always a beautiful but incredibly tough race," Reef concludes. "With a long history, it remains one of the hardest days of the season. Like in previous editions finishing in Como, we'll once again climb the San Fermo della Battaglia in the finale, which will likely be decisive. The course has been slightly altered, making it harder to predict. But with our strong team, we're determined to aim for a great result.”