"I will be back to win this race": Tobias Johannessen falls short of Milano - Torino victory for second year in a row

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 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 battl for victory among 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."

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.