Johannes Staune-Mittet on switching Visma for AG2R: "Every day I get signs that I made the right choice"
Cycling
Nowadays there is a very strong rumour ongoing in the peloton that Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Tiesj Benoot is leaving towards Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at the end of the season. Whilst it can be seen as a risky move, a rider who followed the exact same path last season is quite happy with the decision he made.
“I feel really good with my new team, with new challenges and more opportunities," Johannes Staune-Mittet shared with In de Leiderstrui before the start of the Tour de Romandie where he will be competing. "I feel privileged to be in this position. Every day I get signs that I made the right choice, so that’s pretty cool.”
For several years the Dutch team looked to develop the now 23-year old and turn him into one of the team's new leaders but it didn't quite work out, and last winter he made the switch with a surprising three-year deal with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. He has since finished eighth at the Vuelta a Andalucia as his highlight, but has been learning his way through a different team, roles, and obtaining experience after switching out of a structure he had been racing for years.
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The plan is to turn him into a Grand Tour leader over the upcoming seasons, but already he feels the difference in his role within the team. “I just get more opportunities now, in the races I do, the support I get at training camps... It’s really cool. I’m happy. My goals? I just want to ride as hard as I can. If I’ve given everything by the end of a race week, that’s a win for me.”
Team DS Luke Roberts talked about his happiness and positivity regarding the Norwegian, and is really eager to help him improve into a true leader in the French team. “In 2024, we’re giving him the chance to get used to riding for GC as a leader, but he’ll also ride a Grand Tour in support of another team leader. He’ll take something away from every race, no matter what role he has. The expectations aren’t sky-high, but it’s great for him to already be taking steps in WorldTour races.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- lol yeah. this is a good onemij12-11-2026
- Mads is the best: I didn’t even know there were rules in cyclocross. I just thought it was a matter of: ‘Go, three, two, one, ride.’ It’s like a street fight, a kind of underground brawl. It’s the MMA of cycling he gives the best quotes.mij12-11-2026
- he's too young. he's 23, so not really a fair call yet.mij12-11-2026
- and don't forget Pidcock's departure. maybe he will never win a GT, but he knows how to light up a race.mij12-11-2026
- Bingo...I was going to say a 12 year obsessed Pogi fan girlie ! Like she's chasing a teen boy band! All glossy eyed about tadej!frieders312-11-2026
- That stint in the Pink was so good. If memory serves he struggled with the champagne cuz he'd never been on the podium before. I feel like it gave him some self-belief, and yeah - then the move to Visma to be one of their lieutenants has really brought him to the best version of himself.wrsty12-11-2026
- So, you never really compared Paul Seixas with his main rival Isaac Del Toro why jump to Pogačar? They've (Paul & Isaac) raced together here and there, and they've both shared in wins and losses, I think they should be compared to each other, even with Vingegaard and Remco first before even touching Pogačar. From your writing it's like he's better than Vingegaard, Remco and Del Toro already that his main target is now Pogačar 🤔Sadick11-11-2026
- gee i hope its a minor injury. a great rider and ambassador for the sport. get well soon Lucinda.
Davide11-11-2026 - some of lidl-treks retention and recruiting has been puzzling in the mens and womens teams.Davide11-11-2026
- Yeah his ride at World's was unreal. Over 6 W/kg for over an hour and a half...he single handedly destroyed the break.DAS11-11-2026
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