Johannessen agrees with Benoot: 'I think sometimes we just accept the fate before it happens and that is not a good thing for cycling'

Benoot said this week that he hopes teams and riders will start racing more boldly when the two superstars are on the start line. ‘We all have to stop riding at the front when Van der Poel and Pogacar are there. I don’t understand that. In my opinion, that’s racing for second place: if you start helping them…’

Johannessen agrees — and he does not hide his frustration. Speaking to Domestique, the Norwegian argued that too many squads end up doing the work for Pogacar, even when it is obvious what the outcome will be. “Sometimes teams start to pull and you know they are pulling for a Pogačar win. That is boring,” Johannessen said. “I think sometimes we just accept the fate before it happens and that is not a good thing for cycling. I hope that we dare to take more risks to try to win and do something special.”

Riding on the front with Pogacar and Van der Poel in the race is often a fast track to getting dropped later — and Johannessen believes it also starts with mentality. “I think you never go out on training to try to be third or... fourth in a race you want to win,” he said, pushing back against a peloton that can become too focused on damage limitation rather than upsetting the favourites.

Johannessen’s criticism is not limited to tactics. He also thinks the way some races are designed can unintentionally play into the hands of the strongest rider — making the script feel predictable for fans and riders alike. “Now you’re just waiting for Pogacar to go and then the race starts behind,” he said, arguing he prefers courses that encourage earlier aggression rather than late inevitability.

He used Strade Bianche as an example, suggesting the race felt more explosive when it was shorter. “I think Strade was maybe even cooler when it was a bit shorter and more explosive and that people dare to go from earlier in the race. I like the more shorter and intense races. I think making it longer makes it more boring,” Johannessen explained.

When it comes to the Ardennes, there is one race sitting high — very high — on his wish list. “For me, the big one is Liège. It is the dream to be top five there one year and of course, to win it, which is quite hard these days with Pogačar. It is such a hard race and one of the hardest I will do,” he said. Johannessen finished 23rd at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2023, his best result there so far.