Runner-up Johannessen admits mistake against Van der Poel: ‘A little stupid to try to sprint against him’

Mathieu van der Poel won the ninth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday. In the finale, he saw off Tobias Halland Johannessen, who still emerged as a serious threat during the closing kilometres. The Uno-X Mobility rider accepted his defeat and was full of praise for Van der Poel.

Johannessen had to work hard simply to make it into the breakaway. The Norwegian, who finished sixth overall last year, was not immediately allowed to get clear. “Of course, I hoped they would let the breakaway go, just like last time. We really wanted to be in there so we could gain some time in the general classification.”

That opportunity was denied to him by UAE Team Emirates-XRG and INEOS Grenadiers, among others. “But in the end, it is better to be at the front and fighting for the stage victory than riding in the peloton. So I am still happy that I was part of the breakaway.”

“I don’t think they need to be afraid of me. I’m still searching for my best legs,” he said. “Things went a little better again today, so... Well, second place makes you the first loser, but it is still better than almost anything else.”

“I knew Van der Poel would be strong today, but I did not expect him to go that deep on the final climb. I really had to give everything to catch him,” Johannessen told Eurosport.

“In the end, there were four of us left, and I think we did well to stay ahead of the peloton. It was perhaps a little stupid of me to try to sprint against Van der Poel, but you never know. I thought: if I win here, it will definitely be the coolest victory of my career. So I gave it a try, but he was simply too strong today,” the Norwegian concluded.