Tobias Halland Johannessen, the Norwegian climber currently positioned 10th overall in the Tour de France, has expressed his fear over the threats he has received following a controversial incident during stage 11. In a moment that caused significant alarm, Johannessen inadvertently cut across Tadej Pogačar's front wheel just 4 kilometers from the finish line in Toulouse, leading to a crash that impacted the defending champion's race.
The stage, which was ultimately won by Johannessen's teammate Jonas Abrahamsen from the Uno-X Mobility team, saw tensions rise as Pogačar hit the ground hard. Despite the crash, the world champion quickly attempted to rejoin the race. In a display of sportsmanship, the other riders in the elite general classification (GC) group paused to allow him to catch up.
In a heartfelt message posted on social media following the race, the 25-year-old cyclist apologized for his role in the incident. "I am terribly sorry for what happened to Tadej Pogačar. I was trying to follow a move, and I can see that I was too close," Johannessen wrote. He acknowledged his mistake and expressed his hope for Pogačar's recovery, stating, "I would, of course, like to do it again and do it differently, but I can't. That feels shit."
Johannessen further revealed the emotional toll the backlash has taken on him, saying, "I would not wish anyone the amount of threats I get in my inbox. This feels very scary." His comments highlight the intense pressure and scrutiny professional cyclists face, especially in high-stakes competitions like the Tour de France.
On the other side, Pogačar, currently second overall and just 29 seconds behind race leader Ben Healy heading into stage 12's first high-mountain test at Hautacam, extended a message of support to Johannessen through his teammate Tim Wellens' Twitter account. He reassured Johannessen, saying, "All good, don't stress. I hope people don't give you shit. People, stop giving him shit! It's all good, a racing incident and we fight on." This sentiment was echoed by UAE teammate Jhonatan Narváez, who humorously added, "But keep the line, eh?"
The incident involving Tobias Halland Johannessen and Tadej Pogačar serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of cycling and the intense emotions that come with competitive racing. As the Tour de France progresses, fans and fellow competitors alike continue to support each other, emphasizing the camaraderie that exists even amidst fierce competition.
