“Completely ridiculous, pathetic and foolish” – Thor Hushovd rages at snub of Uno-X riders for prestigious awards

Thor Hushovd has launched a furious attack on Norwegian sport’s awards system after neither Jonas Abrahamsen nor Tobias Johannessen were nominated for Male Athlete of the Year, despite Uno-X Mobility delivering its strongest Tour de France performances in history.

Speaking to VG, the former world champion did not hold back as he reacted to the list of 14 nominees published by the jury, which is made up of experts and representatives from multiple sports and organisations.

“I think it’s completely ridiculous, pathetic and foolish,” Hushovd fumed. “That there isn’t room among the 14 nominees makes me furious.”

The omission is particularly striking given what Uno-X achieved this season. The team claimed Norway’s first Tour de France stage victory in five years, while also recording its best-ever overall classification result through Johannessen.

Yet neither rider was considered among the nominees, despite Johannessen finishing the year as the highest-ranked Norwegian cyclist on the world rankings in 50th place. Abrahamsen ends the season ranked 83rd, with Soren Waerenskjold positioned between them in 62nd.

For Hushovd, the issue goes beyond cycling alone. “We have to look at the bigger picture, where there are international sports that are a bit un-Norwegian, where we actually perform well,” he told VG. “Not only cycling, but also golf and tennis. There are many things there that aren’t appreciated, while we win gold medal number 300 or 400 in another sport. You have to put things into perspective.”

Hushovd’s comments were put to the jury chairman, Tore Ovrebø, who also heads Olympiatoppen, Norway’s national elite sport organisation.

Ovrebø acknowledged the disappointment but defended the selection process. “I fully understand that they are disappointed. They have delivered strong performances. However, others have done so as well,” he said. “That’s part of the situation in Norwegian elite sport at the moment. You have to perform at an extremely high level to be nominated.”

Cycling’s absence from the shortlist is not new. Hushovd himself remains the only cyclist ever to have won the award, which was established in 2007. He claimed the honour in 2011.

More recently, the prize has gone to athletes from traditionally dominant Norwegian disciplines, including athletics, football, skiing and biathlon. In January 2025, Olympic decathlon champion Markus Rooth was named Male Athlete of the Year.

There was, however, some consolation for Uno-X, with the team included among the nominees for Team of the Year – recognition Hushovd welcomed, even as frustration over the individual snub remained clear.