“I Fought for Stage Wins, But Then It Usually Ended with Pogacar or Vingegaard Coming” – Uno-X Star Reflects on 2024 Tour de France Breakaways
At the 2024 Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar delivered a masterclass, securing an incredible six stage victories while Jonas Vingegaard added one to his tally. While their brilliance thrilled fans, it left little breathing room for other riders, particularly those who rely on breakaway opportunities for success.
One such rider was Uno-X Mobility’s Tobias Johannessen, whose persistent efforts in breakaways during the Tour earned him an 11th-place finish on stages 15 and 20, albeit without ultimate glory. Reflecting on his experience, the 25-year-old Norwegian shared, “I’m very happy that I ended up doing the Tour in the end, which was the big goal. Even though the road to get there was quite bumpy,” referencing an injury-laden season.
“I felt good, but Pogacar felt a little bit better,” Johannessen admitted with a wry smile during an interview with Max.
The Norwegian was among the most active riders in breakaways throughout the Grand Tour, striving for his maiden stage win in cycling’s biggest race. However, his ambitions were repeatedly thwarted by the relentless dominance of Pogacar and Vingegaard. Pogacar’s aggressive racing, which saw him claim his third Maillot Jaune, left little room for rivals to shine.
“In some of the breaks I was in, I fought for stage wins, but then it usually ended with Pogacar or Vingegaard coming from behind and taking those victories,” Johannessen recalled with a touch of disappointment. “So I’m left with the feeling that if I’d had a bit of a margin, it could have been really good. You’d look at it completely differently than you do now.”
Despite the setbacks, Johannessen remains optimistic. “It wasn’t just me who didn’t manage to take a stage win. He (Tadej Pogacar) was just enormous,” he said. “So we have a job to do over the winter, but I don’t think it’s impossible that if we get to the Tour next year we’ll be able to take a stage win.”
The 2024 Tour de France may have been a tale of dominance for Pogacar and Vingegaard, but riders like Johannessen continue to showcase the grit and determination that makes cycling a sport of relentless pursuit.
