"I will be back to win this race": Tobias Johannessen falls short of Milano - Torino victory for second year in a row
Cycling
Ever since the Milano - Torino regained its title as a preparation race and appetizer ahead of the first Monument of the season, the Milano-Sanremo, the Italian one-day race classic has managed to deliver a spectacle year after year. And the 2026 edition has been no different. With a traditional double-summit of Superga, fans were always going to enjoy a thrilling battle for victory among the world's best climbers - all with one goal: To succeed last year's champion, Isaac del Toro.
Unlike last year, it was already the first ascent that has been completed at a devilish pace. With all favourites already on the edge, the second time up Superga turned into a battle for survival with Tom Pidcock coming out on top ahead of Tobias Johannessen and Primoz Roglic.
For the Norwegian rider, this was a confirmation of an excellent level at the start of this season following a 4th place overall at Tirreno-Adriatico. And still, the Uno-X Mobility leader didn't sound fully satisfied with a second place in an interview for CyclingProNet afterwards:
"I really wanted to have a victory here, but Tom went at a perfect moment and I couldn't catch him. So chapeau to him - he was the strongest."
The 26-year-old doesn't make it a secret that a race like Milano - Torino is exactly to his liking, and that he'd love to win it one day. "For sure I will be back and try to be the first one over the line."
Tobias Johannessen, Tom Pidcock and Primoz Roglic on the final podium of Milano-Torino 2026
In 2025, Johannessen finished 3rd, behind winner Del Toro and Ben Tulett. Back then, he blamed himself for failing on the tactical side. Was this year's race better in his opinion?
"This year I'm more satisfied with how I rode and I think it was more just he (Tom Pidcock) went at the perfect time and I simply couldn't close the initial 10 meters. Then in the end, it was more about protecting the second place and I can be happy with second place. But we always race for more than second so I will be back," the Norwegian concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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