![\"Jorgenson](\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tirreno-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nUS racer Jorgenson grabbed by neck and threatened by Movistar rider Saturday as he closed down on standout GC finish at Tirreno-Adriatico.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Updated March 16, 2026 05:33AM<\/p>\n
Matteo Jorgenson<\/a> was reportedly attacked by Javier Romo when a racing incident extended into the team paddock on Saturday at Tirreno-Adriatico<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Het Laatste Nieuws<\/a>, Jorgenson was grabbed by the neck and verbally threatened by Romo outside the Visma-Lease a Bike bus in the aftermath of a gruelling ride across the hills of Le Marche.<\/p>\n The incident was only cut short when Romo was pulled away by his Movistar team manager Max Sciandri.<\/p>\n According to HLN, Jorgenson shouted \u201cAdios\u201d in a taunting tone as he clambered back into his bus.<\/p>\n A Visma-Lease a Bike spokesperson brushed off the incident Monday when contacted by Velo. \u201cIt was just a race incident, nothing special,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n Velo has also reached out to Movistar for comment.<\/p>\n Jorgenson raced for Movistar through to 2023. Romo joined the Spanish squad in 2024.<\/p>\n HLN states the beef began Saturday afternoon in an off-camera incident.<\/p>\n Visma-Lease a Bike was active for Jorgenson throughout Tirreno\u2019s sixth stage as the 26-year-old looked to improve on his then-third-place GC position. HLN suggests an unseen maneuver by the American got Romo into a rage.<\/p>\n Whatever happened on Saturday, Visma seemed keen to play it down when contacted by Velo.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, it\u2019s a shocking reminder of how minor spats can easily spill over in the tightly wound peloton.<\/p>\n And this wasn\u2019t Jorgenson\u2019s first public rodeo, either. The Idahoan was also caught in a flare-up with Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/a> in a feed-zone incident at the Tour de France.<\/p>\n Jorgenson on final podium in Tirreno after \u2018first ever sprint win\u2019 Jorgenson ultimately finished third on Saturday\u2019s relentlessly lumpy stage after he and GC leader Isaac del Toro<\/a> traded attacks through a spicy hilltop finale.<\/p>\n Romo finished 14th on the day, 50 seconds later.<\/p>\n The \u201cKiller Bee\u201d then moved up to second overall in Sunday\u2019s final stage<\/a> after he won an intermediate sprint courtesy of a full leadout by team Visma-Lease a Bike.<\/p>\n The bonus primes were good for Jorgenson to overhaul Giulio Pellizzari in the standings and finish second behind only Del Toro.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was the first ever sprint I\u2019ve won in my whole career,\u201d Jorgenson joked after the stage. \u201cWe did a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n Second at Tirreno-Adriatico rounds out a standout early block of racing<\/a> for Jorgenson as he follows a risky new schedule<\/a> through the spring.<\/p>\n He opted against defending his title at Paris-Nice \u2013 a race his teammate Jonas Vingegaard won instead<\/a> \u2013 to team up with Wout van Aert through a string of Italian races.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Matteo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2266639771-1200x800.jpg\"\/)
Jorgenson nipped Pellizzari to second place with a bonus-sprint coup on Sunday. (Photo: Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n