“When these two guys went previous, it’s like I don’t do the identical sport as them” is how Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno X-Mobility) described being handed by Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) on the ultimate climb after combating for the win on stage 15 of the Tour de France within the breakaway.
The two greatest climbers within the Tour had been led onto the ultimate climb up Plateau de Beille by Visma’s Matteo Jorgenson with a deficit of two:35 on the five-man group which remained from the day’s break in entrance. This comprised of Johannessen, Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Enric Mas (Movistar), Laurens De Plus (Ineos Grenadiers) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost).
However, after taking up the hellish 15.8km Pyrenean beast, the closest to stage winner Pogačar on the line was Olympic Champion Carapaz 5:41 behind the race chief, with Johannesen even additional again 6:27 in arrears on the end.
So massive was Pogačar’s benefit that even when third place on the day and general Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) got here throughout the road, he was already beginning a warm-down on his TT bike.
“We realised that Pogačar and Vingegaard would come in the long run on the final climb, then it was nearly successful the breakaway however I feel Carapaz did that,” mentioned Johannessen, defeated however in awe of the lads who’ve received the previous 4 Tours de France between them.
“For me, when these two guys went previous it’s like I don’t do the identical sport as them. They are approach too good and also you need to hate them, however they’re cool guys and make biking enjoyable to observe so it’s a bit onerous. [They are] on one other stage.”
The Norwegian isn’t any stranger to being outdone by Pogačar and Vingegaard having missed out on a maiden Tour stage win behind solely the superstars on stage 6 of the 2023 Tour when the Slovenian received in Cauterets-Cambasque
It was a giant day for Johannessen making it into one of many many strikes that had been launched on the hellish 197.7km route that was stuffed with almost 5000 metres of elevation acquire, nevertheless, he feels he misplaced power after lacking a key break up on the Col d’Agnes with 73km to go.
“It was for me good to be within the breakaway, that was the primary objective. After that, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe had a few guys and so they noticed a possibility earlier than one of many final climbs to separate the group. I received caught behind so I used to be a bit pissed however I used that aggression to bridge as much as the group to have the ability to combat for a win,” mentioned the younger Norwegian earlier than admitting the tactical battle as much as Plateau de Beille performed out as they knew the win was gone.
“Some received a bit pissed however the alternative for the win was gone then it went right into a tactical part, you simply must attempt to assault and be the final man to get caught.
“For me, I didn’t have the very best legs after bridging as much as the entrance group so I knew that it was over. In the top, it was nothing however that’s life.”
Johannessen will now settle in for the second relaxation day after two monstrous days within the Pyrenees back-to-back, with all eyes on chasing a primary win for Uno-X Mobility alongside his teammates within the last six levels.
“Sleep so long as I would like then have some cake and occasional, not take into consideration biking for sooner or later then again to work,” he mentioned of his plans for Monday.
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the Tour de France – together with breaking information and evaluation reported by our journalists on the bottom from each stage of the race because it occurs and extra. Find out extra
