JABAL AL AKHDHAR, Oman — A Boise High grad took home not only a first professional stage win but a first overall stage race victory by the thinnest possible margin.

Matteo Jorgenson, a 2017 Boise High graduate, won the overall Tour of Oman Wednesday, clinching the general classification victory by one second.

The American, who races for Movistar Team, won the five-day, 830.3 km race (516 miles) with a final time of 19 hours, 56 minutes and 21 seconds.

Second-place Mauri Vansevenant of Belgium clocked in at 19 hours, 56 minute, and 22 seconds. Vansevenant and Jorgenson, both 23, were also eligible for the best young rider category.

The course brought riders through the capital city Muscat and along the Omani coast, before concluding with a climb up Green Mountain. Green Mountain is part of the Hajar Mountains, the highest mountain range in the Eastern Arabian Peninsula.

After two days of racing, Jorgenson found himself 5th overall, sitting 10 seconds behind race leader Jesus Herrada of Spain.

In the third stage, Jorgenson seized his chance to take control of the stage and the overall race. Jorgenson and several riders whittled down a breakaway before Jorgenson himself accelerated in the final 200 meters of a steep climb to secure the stage win (his first), and the overall lead.

Following the stage 3 victory and the time bonus that came with winning, Jorgenson jumped up to first overall, holding a five-second lead over Vansevenant.

Jorgenson donned the red jersey, given to the rider leading the race, for stage 4 where he maintained pace as he cycled into the final stage.

The last stage brought Jorgenson and Vansevenant head-to-head to determine the overall winner. The two, along with French rider Geoffrey Bouchard, stayed close in the last kilometer before Jorgenson lunged forward.

Vanseveant was able to round Jorgenson last second, but Jorgenson kept close to finish less than a second behind the Belgian rider. Due to time bonuses (10 seconds for 1st, 6 for 2nd, 4 for 3rd), Vansevenant gained four seconds on Jorgenson.

Because Jorgenson finished less than a second back, he did not lose any more time, winning the overall race by one second.

Results were not official for a few minutes, and Jorgenson endured a short, nervous wait before being told he had won, to which he shouted ‘yes’ in elation before doing post-race interviews.

“It’s super special,” Jorgenson said post-race. It’s just a huge moment of relief. Those things start to cross your mind, maybe I’m just not the type of rider who can win, maybe I don’t have the talent. Finally, I proved it to myself. It was mostly about legs, that climb was pretty steep at moments. I wanted to go on the steep part to test everyone. It took them a second to get back so I knew that I had pretty good legs in the end.”

Jorgenson spoke on the last few days, referring to stage 3, his first professional win.

"Two days ago, I got my first professional win and now to take my first GC at a race like this,” Jorgenson said. “I'm just so happy.”

He admitted his goal for the season was to win one race, and expressed jubilation, having already surpassed that goal.

"My goal for this season was to win one race and it has been the last two years and now we've just won two,” Jorgenson said. “You have no idea how good it feels."

In addition to the general classification victory and the red jersey, Jorgenson also automatically clinched the white jersey, for winning the best young rider category. He also won the points category, obtaining the green jersey, which is known as the "sprinter's jersey", given to riders who collect the most points, given out at sprint checkpoints across the course and stage finishes.

Jorgenson is the first American to win the race, which began in 2010. The most notable previous winner is British cyclist Chris Froome. Froome has won the most prestigious cycling race in the world, Le Tour De France, four times. He is the only rider this century to have won the Tour more than twice.

Last year was Jorgenson’s maiden Tour de France. He pulled off a shock, nearly placing on the podium on three occasions. He finished 21st overall, and 4th overall in the young rider classification, wowing American fans and Movistar Team, which initially was uncertain of having Jorgenson race in the Tour.

For highlights of the last race from the Tour of Oman and the moment Jorgenson found out about his victory, click here. For overall race information, click here.

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