Maatstricht, Netherlands – American cyclist Matteo Jorgenson sustained a fractured clavicle during Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race, ruling him out of the upcoming Ardennes classics Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, his team Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed on Monday.
The injury occurred in the final 20 kilometers of the 253-kilometer race when Jorgenson, riding in a leading group, lost control on a wet descent near the Cauberg climb. Race officials reported the American veered off the road and struck a barrier, requiring immediate medical attention before being transported to a local hospital for imaging.
Visma | Lease a Bike’s medical staff confirmed the diagnosis via CT scan, identifying a non-displaced fracture of the right clavicle. Team spokesperson Klaas Lodewyck stated the injury does not require surgery but will necessitate four to six weeks of rest and rehabilitation, effectively ending Jorgenson’s spring Ardennes campaign.
“Matteo is disappointed but in good spirits,” Lodewyck said in the team’s official release. “He’s focused on recovery and will rejoin the squad for altitude training in preparation for the Giro d’Italia in May. His health comes first, and we’ll follow the medical timeline closely.”
The 24-year-old from Colorado had entered the Amstel Gold Race as one of Visma | Lease a Bike’s co-leaders alongside defending champion Tadej Pogačar. Jorgenson had shown strong form in the lead-up to the race, finishing fourth at Dwars door Vlaanderen and sixth at E3 Saxo Classic, positioning himself as a contender for a top-10 finish in Limburg.
His absence significantly alters the dynamics for both Flèche Wallonne on April 24 and Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 27. Jorgenson had finished eighth in last year’s Flèche and 12th in Liège, demonstrating growing proficiency on the steep, punchy climbs characteristic of the Ardennes terrain.
Visma | Lease a Bike will now rely more heavily on Pogačar, who won the Amstel Gold Race in a solo attack on the Cauberg, and young Dutch talent Nils Eekhoff to shoulder the leadership responsibilities in the remaining classics. The team also retains experienced riders like Sepp Kuss and Christophe Laporte for support roles in hilly finishes.
Jorgenson’s injury adds to a growing list of setbacks for American riders in the spring classics. Sepp Kuss crashed out of the Amstel Gold Race with a hip contusion, while Neilson Powless abandoned early due to illness. Only Brandon McNulty of UAE Team Emirates finished in the top 20 for the United States, placing 17th.
The Amstel Gold Race itself was won by Tadej Pogačar in his season debut, marking his first victory in the race after three previous podium finishes. The Slovenian attacked with 14 kilometers to go on the Cauberg, distancing his rivals and soloing to victory in Maatstricht. Mathieu van der Poel finished second, and Wout van Aert completed the podium.
Medical experts note that clavicle fractures, while common in cycling crashes, require careful management to prevent non-union or re-injury. Dr. Emily Sanders, a sports medicine specialist at the University of California San Francisco not involved in Jorgenson’s care, explained that non-displaced fractures like his typically heal well with conservative treatment but demand strict adherence to rest protocols.
“Cyclists often want to return too soon because the pain subsides before the bone is fully healed,” Sanders said. “For a stage race like the Giro, which demands sustained effort and frequent crashes risk, rushing back could jeopardize his entire season.”
Jorgenson’s focus will now shift to recovery and preparation for the Giro d’Italia, which begins on May 4 in Turin. Visma | Lease a Bike has not yet announced its full Giro roster, but Jorgenson’s participation appears likely assuming standard healing timelines hold.
The team will provide weekly updates on his condition through its official channels, with the next medical evaluation scheduled for two weeks post-injury. Fans wishing to follow his recovery can monitor Visma | Lease a Bike’s website and social media accounts for verified updates.
For now, the American rider’s absence serves as a reminder of the physical toll exacted by the spring classics circuit, where narrow roads, high speeds, and unpredictable weather combine to create one of cycling’s most demanding and dangerous stretches of the calendar.
His teammates and rivals alike expressed support following the news. Pogačar, speaking after his Amstel Gold Race victory, said he hoped Jorgenson would recover quickly and return to competition soon. “He’s a talented rider with a bright future,” the Slovenian champion noted. “We’ll see him back at the front before long.”
As the Ardennes week proceeds without one of its promising young stars, the focus now turns to how the remaining contenders adapt to the revised landscape of Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège — races that will proceed without Matteo Jorgenson at the start line.
Visma | Lease a Bike will next compete in Flèche Wallonne on April 24, starting in Huy and finishing atop the Mur de Huy. Live coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. Local time (12:30 p.m. UTC) on major cycling broadcasters worldwide.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Ardennes classics and all developments in Matteo Jorgenson’s recovery.
What are your thoughts on how Visma | Lease a Bike should adjust its tactics for the Ardennes classics without Jorgenson? Share your insights in the comments below or join the conversation on our social media channels.
