‘I’m going to ask him every day’: Tobias Halland Johannessen seeks Pogacar’s blessing for the breakaway

At the Tour de France, riders usually speak to their sports directors before deciding whether a breakaway has a chance. Tobias Halland Johannessen chose to consult a different authority.

Before the start of stage 14 in Mulhouse, the Uno-X Mobility rider approached Tadej Pogačar and asked the yellow jersey whether the day’s escape might be allowed to survive.

“I talked with Pogačar at the start,” Johannessen said after the finish at Le Markstein. “I asked him if he believed in the breakaway today, and he said, ‘Maybe not.’”

It was hardly the blessing Johannessen had been hoping for.

Pogačar’s answer proved accurate. UAE kept the breakaway within reach all afternoon, with the gap never stretching much beyond three minutes.

Johannessen was still willing to try. He made the 37 rider move on the Grand Ballon, where he was joined by his twin brother Anders. “We just agreed to force our way through the stage,” Tobias said. “I’m really proud to be up there with my twin brother.”

Anders did much of the work in the valley before the Col du Haag, helping Tobias stay in contention as the peloton closed in.

“He was so strong pulling in the last valley,” Tobias said. “I think he matched the UAE guys quite well.”

Anders eventually emptied himself for his brother. Tobias continued with Richard Carapaz, who attacked as the slopes of the Col du Haag began to steepen.

Carapaz initially opened a gap, but Johannessen refused to follow the Ecuadorian’s acceleration and instead settled into his own rhythm.

“He was strong, of course, and he rides quite aggressively, so he went full gas,” Johannessen said. “I just kept my pace, and I managed to get him back.”

Eventually Johannessen and Carapaz were caught shortly before the summit. Not long afterwards, Pogačar attacked and rode clear to claim another stage victory.

“When the group came, they just went a bit too fast for me,” Johannessen said. “Chapeau to him and all the other guys who went ballistic on the last climb.”

Still, Johannessen took encouragement from how long he and his brother had kept the move alive.

“We’re a bit disappointed that we didn’t go all the way to the finish,” he said. “But we’re going to try again. I think we showed that we are capable of good things.”

Johannessen may have received his answer from Pogačar before the stage, but he does not intend to stop asking.

“I’m going to ask him every day,” he said. “We’re going to keep trying.”