"I hope that was all it was" - Johannessen hopes to start Tour de France differently than his Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes opening
Cycling
Tobias Johannessen turned some heads with a blazing finish to the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes as followed up a strong breakaway day with back-to-back general classification battles, but he doesn't necessarily want a repeat in the Tour de France.
Uno-X Mobility know they have a genuine GC top ten contender on their hands in July, and will arrive at next month's Grand Depart with an in-form Johannessen hoping to improve on his sixth place in 2025 at the Tour. He arrives with every reason to believe he can do just that.
The Norwegian rider has enjoyed a strong season, finishing ninth at the UAE Tour, fourth in Tirreno Adriatico and then third in Itzulia Basque Country, before a long stint at altitude training. The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes then followed as his big litmus test for the Grand Boucle.
If you took the opening stage as an isolated indication of his level, it wouldn't tell the full picture. He lost over two minutes on the rest of the big leaders in a chaotic opening stage, but just a few days later, soared straight back into GC contention after a breakaway battle that saw his take minutes on the same favourites.
Johannessen reflects on Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
"The first stage of this race was a bit s**t, but that's the only really bad day I've had this year," Johannessen told IDL Pro Cycling. "It's always a bit strange to come back from an altitude camp, especially after a month and a half without racing. I hope that was all it was. I've felt good since then."
His final two stages, now planted in the top ten of the GC standings, he fought on mountain-top finishes with the top contenders and even dropped many on the final stage - except eventual winner Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso - that tells him that he could be in better form as he eyes turn to July 4th.
"I think it's been a very good year so far. I'm happy with how it feels. I think I'm in better form than last year. I also feel more confident. All the training has been perfect too, so I think July will be fun."
He added: "I definitely want to do better than last year. That's always the goal. As long as the feeling is good, I'm not too worried about my placing. After all, there are so many things that can happen."
Johannessen finished sixth in the 2025 Tour de France
Tour de France ambitions
Johannessen and Uno-X want to go one or two better than sixth, which would put him in the conversation around podium level. However, a stage win is a big dream for the 26-year-old, who will be buoyed by better sensations this time around than last.
"Of course the dream is a stage win, and then doing even better in the general classification. I think we'll just have to see. It's hard to know now how the legs will be throughout July. So, in any case, I think I'm in better form."
Read also
The battle to even be in the running for the Tour de France podium will be fierce, with a bloated field of contenders all arriving with GC ambitions. Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are the firm favourites to occupy the number one and two spots when the peloton arrives in Paris, but there's many more looking to be the third on the podium or better.
Paul Seixas arrives an unknown quantity over three works. Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz come having been the last two riders to grab third spot. Looking further there are the likes of Tom Pidcock, Oscar Onley, Isaac del Toro and Kevin Vauquelin among others in the fray.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- It doesnt take a genius to understand that Pogi is 1 level above and Pogi is younger that Jonas, so Jonas will not win under ordinary circumstances. Pogi has to crack hard for Jonas to win. It doesn't matter whether you defend Jonas or not , facts remain facts. Jonas himself says his numbers are better than 2022/2023, so Jonas is more or less optimized and we are just see the stochastic variation due to other factors. I think he will retire along with Pedersen in WC denmarkabstractengineer13-11-2026
- They only raced each other during the 2026 Tour, but here's a few metrics to look at. Stage 3 (Granollers to Les Angles): Pogačar won the stage, finishing 2 seconds ahead of Vingegaard (2nd). Del Toro finished 24 seconds behind Stage 6 (Pau to Gavarnie-Gedre / Col du Tourmalet): Pogačar won solo, Vingegaard finished 2nd (losing 2:38), and Del Toro finished 3rd (at +2:57, finishing 19 seconds behind Vingegaard). Here, Jonas Vingegaard outclimbed Isaac del Toro by 19 seconds on the mountain stageawp13-11-2026
- your clinging to the past. Jonas was dropped by del toro many times last year and jonas never managed a climbing numers del toro did in dauphine last year -entire year. Trend is also evident theres no discussion your living in the past, its beent he same with jonas for many years now and only developing, meanwhile del toro is rising and developing greatly. This is all obvious stuff and im not even a del toro fan. No point discussing numbers or this i suspect you dont watch much now but rather think its 2022 still cause this aint hard.miguel13-11-2026
- We can go through metrics if you like, Del Toro, who I do admire and support, is not on the same level as Jonas just yet. You will see that in early 2027 if they have any crossover races. I do hope they both race the Giro. You are correct though, Jonas is getting older and will not be able to hand on much longer. I see 2027 as a good year for him. Obviously behind Tadej though.awp13-11-2026
- What wins? Are you LA operating under a pseudonym?mij13-11-2026
- My point is this - Tadej, Remco, Seixas are all the outliers. Many riders don’t hit their peak until 28. It’s way too early to write him off. And the pogi slo guy that hates him - he’s also immature. Ayuso needs time.mij13-11-2026
- Then you need to use ur eyes or head if you have cause del toro already dropped jonas two times and beat him in tdf stages already this year.. Del toro climbed(dauphine) better numbers than jonas did all year too. So ur feelings and wishful thinking doesnt amtter del toro himself has already surpassed jonas infact just facts. Its also very evident for anyone objective that Jonas is declining alot, its just the truth and super obvious.miguel13-11-2026
- None of those victories stand, so there's that,wrsty13-11-2026
- No surprise there; it is British Sycling, yes, with an S
Rafionain-Glas12-11-2026 - I like Del Toro but he's not on the level of Jonas, by a large margin.awp12-11-2026
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