Two new signings for 2020
German rouleur - a stagiaire for Katusha last summer - and American stageracer, winner of the points jersey at the Tour de l'Avenir, add their talents to Telefónica-backed squad starting next year.
The Movistar Team announced Friday that Juri Hollmann (Cologne, GER; 1999), a rider for the German Continental outfit Heizomat Rad-Net, and Matteo Jorgenson (Boise, Idaho, USA; 1999), currently in the ranks of the AG2R Chambéry development team, will be part for the next two seasons (2020 + 2021) of the Telefónica-backed squad, thus taking the leap towards the UCI WorldTour.
Jorgenson -aged 20, just like his future team-mate- shone brightly at the Tour de l’Avenir held last August, notching up the Points jersey after big efforts in both the mid-mountain stages early in the race -he finished 3rd in Saint-Julien and Privas (st. 5/6)- and the longer climbs, getting to a virtual podium before the last weekend of the event. Raised as a future pro on French soil during the 2019 season, the 4th-place finisher of the 2019 Ronde de l’Isard hopes to continue learning and growing in the most demanding races of the world.
Jorgenson’s words: “To be given the chance to step up to a squad as successful as the Movistar Team is a huge honor. After a super transformative year, adapting to all that comes with life in Europe, I feel ready to make this jump. I have huge gratitude for Chambéry Cyclisme Formation and AG2R for believing in me, and giving me the platform to succeed this year. By including lots of Spanish .1 and .HC races in their calendar, the Movistar Team allows me to continue developing my racecraft and smooth out my transition to the WorldTour. I’m looking forward to starting my pro career – I couldn’t think of a better place to do it.”
In turn, Hollmann -who, together with Jorgenson, Iñigo Elosegui and Johan Jacobs, took part in the recent World Championships in Yorkshire- will bring his strength on flat courses to a roster where the German –bronze medalist in the 2019 German U23 ITT Champs– will build up on the recent experience earned at top-level courses: he rode for Katusha as a trainee last summer, competing in the Tours of Germany and Britain as well as the Arctic Race of Norway.
Hollmann’s reaction: “I am very excited to ride for the Movistar Team for the next two years. A childhood dream is coming true! I am motivated to perform at a higher level in a team I have always looked up to. A big thank you to Heizomat Rad-Net for the support during the last two years, and also to Katusha-Alpecin, for giving me the opportunity to ride as a stagiaire in tough races.”
Cover picture (c): Felix Homann / Fellusch