Andreas Leknessund
Andreas Leknessund, born 21 May 1999 in Tromsø, Norway, is a Norwegian road racing cyclist who rides for UCI WorldTeam Uno-X Mobility. A powerful time triallist who has grown into a capable stage-race rider, Leknessund is best known for wearing the maglia rosa as leader of the 2023 Giro d'Italia. A multiple Norwegian national time trial champion and former European under-23 time trial champion, he combines raw engine power with growing general classification ambitions. Find Andreas Leknessund's latest results, stats and race calendar on this page.
Biography of pro cyclist Andreas Leknessund
Andreas Leknessund is one of Norway's most accomplished stage racers, a rider whose time-trialling strength has repeatedly carried him into the spotlight. After three seasons in the WorldTour with Team DSM, he returned home to Uno-X Mobility to anchor the team's general classification ambitions.
His career has been defined by a willingness to attack and a powerful engine, qualities that briefly put him in the leader's jersey of a Grand Tour and continue to make him dangerous in week-long races.
Early life and rise
Born in Tromsø, in Arctic northern Norway, Leknessund turned professional in 2018 with the Uno-X Norwegian Development Team. He quickly established himself as a time-trial specialist, winning the Norwegian elite national time trial title in 2019 and again in 2020, a season in which he also took the UEC European Under-23 Time Trial Championship and the Giro del Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Those results earned him a move to WorldTeam DSM for 2021, where he developed from a pure tester into a more complete stage racer.
Tour de Suisse win and the maglia rosa
Leknessund's breakthrough at the top level came in 2022, when he won stage two of the Tour de Suisse with a solo attack from the breakaway, and later claimed overall victory at the Arctic Race of Norway after winning the final stage. His defining moment arrived at the 2023 Giro d'Italia, where he rode into the maglia rosa and held the overall lead for several days, announcing himself to a global audience.
Return to Uno-X and recent seasons
After three years with DSM, Leknessund returned to Uno-X Mobility for 2024 on a multi-year deal, joining the team's rise into the WorldTour. He has continued to serve as a general classification option for one-week stage races and selected Grand Tours, using his time-trialling power as the foundation for his results.
Rider profile: strengths, style, and characteristics
Leknessund is first and foremost a powerful time triallist, tall and strong, with the ability to ride away solo from a breakaway. He climbs well enough to contend in week-long races and has the racing instincts to seize opportunities. His blend of engine, aggression and tactical sense makes him a versatile asset and a genuine GC card for Uno-X.
Personal life
Leknessund hails from Tromsø, deep inside the Arctic Circle, and came up through the Norwegian development system that has produced much of Uno-X's current core. Returning to the Norwegian team brought his career back to its roots.
Records and milestones
- Leader of the 2023 Giro d'Italia (wore the maglia rosa)
- Norwegian National Time Trial Champion: 2019, 2020
- European Under-23 Time Trial Champion: 2020
- Stage winner, Tour de Suisse: 2022
- Overall winner, Arctic Race of Norway: 2022
What's next for Andreas Leknessund?
With Uno-X Mobility now racing in the WorldTour, Leknessund steps into 2026 as a genuine general classification option for one-week stage races and selective Grand Tours. The challenge is to convert his time-trialling strength and breakaway instincts into more overall results, while continuing to fly the flag for Norwegian cycling on the sport's biggest stages.
