Tobias Halland Johannessen showed his legs in the Tour de France on Thursday. The Norwegian rider finished fourth in the tough mountain stage, a day after he caused a crash involving Tadej Pogacar.
“I was extra keen to show that I am a great cyclist and not an idiot,” said the 25-year-old Johannessen after the finish of the Pyrenees stage to Hautacam to Eurosport.
The talented climber of Uno-X Mobility received a lot of criticism on Wednesday after he accidentally brought Pogacar down in the eleventh stage. As a result, the Tour favorite reached the finish in Toulouse with bruises and abrasions.
Johannessen expressed regret to Pogacar, but also reported threats to his address on social media. “That hate from all these people is scary,” he wrote on X.
Pogacar also spoke up for Johannessen on Wednesday evening. “It was a race incident, so it’s okay. Stop that shit,” Pogacar said in a video, which can be seen below.
Pogacar also visited Johannessen before Thursday’s ride. “Tadej is very nice,” said the Norwegian. “He came to me again at the start to reassure me. That also motivated me enormously.”
Pogacar won the stage to Hautacam, ahead of Jonas Vingegaard and Florian Lipowitz. Johannessen finished a respectable fourth, three minutes behind Pogacar.
“It was a fight between my head and legs, but I received so much support on the climb. That made me feel good,” said Johannessen.
The winner of the Tour de l’Avenir of 2021 climbed in the standings from tenth to eighth place. His deficit to yellow jersey wearer Pogacar is 7.44 minutes.