"The goal has always been to ride the Tour together" - Johannessen twins set out to leave mark at 2025 Tour de France
Cycling
We've grown used to seeing the Yates twins at the Tour de France over the last decade, but in 2025 they'll be joined by another identical climbers. Whereas Tobias Johannessen has been a recognized force in the peloton since his overall victory at the 2021 Tour de l'Avenir, his twin Anders took a bit longer to convince managers at Uno-X Mobility that he deserves a spot at Grande Boucle too.
But after his overall victory at the Tour of Slovenia, there was no doubt that Anders Johannessen should be included in the 2025 selection: "It's been a dream for quite a few years. To finally be able to stand on the starting line here together, I think that will be special," Anders begins in a joint interview of the two twins ahead of Tour de France, conducted by the Norwegian TV 2.
"Our cycling career has been a joint project," Tobias continues. "And the goal, as we've ticked off more boxes, has been the Tour. And doing it together is the ultimate thing as twins. We're very 'close', so it's going to be really cool to share the biggest cycling experience together."
"One thing that is great is that we are both going to the Tour. It is tiring to be the twin who people think is Norway's worst cyclist, who is at home in Drøbak when it is the Tour de France down in France," says Anders and laughs. "It will be great to be in France with the "brutter" this summer."
For Tobias, it won't be a debut with two starts already under his belt. But since a stage victory has been evading the younger twin, both arrive to Lille with the same goal - to win first Tour de France stage.
And given that mountains will be reserved for top GC contenders such as Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard, the two Norwegians will hunt breakaways. Then it could happen they run into each other in the front group. Are they prepared to handle such a scenario?
"I think we could make that decision pretty quickly. If Anders says he has cannon legs, and I feel a bit stubborn, then there is no doubt that the best thing is to go for Anders. So I think we should be able to solve it in a pretty nice way," says Tobias. "Then we could also sprint against each other, to see who's faster," adds Anders. "... and finish second and third," he concludes, laughing.
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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- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
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- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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