– I have goosebumps all over my body. I couldn’t believe my ears. First over the Tourmalet is very big, said TV 2’s cycling expert Dag Otto Lauritzen. The Norwegian Uno-X rider Tobias Halland Johannessen impressed tremendously when he moved from the break group he was in and was first on top of the Col du Tourmalet on the 6th stage of the Tour de France. As the first man up, he collected 20 climbing points and a cash prize of 5,000 euros, equivalent to just over 58,000 Norwegian kroner. Never before has a Norwegian been first up the Col du Tourmalet. Tobias Halland Johannessen impressed greatly during the sixth Tour de France stage. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB There was also a duel with Portuguese Ruben Guerreiro which almost caused a rollover. Then Johannessen handed out a small rinsing bucket. – There is zero respect, commented Christian Paasche at TV 2. – It is good that he is making up for it, Thor Hushovd followed up. Johannessen ensured Uno-X and Norwegian cycling’s best result in this year’s Tour de France with a third place. Before the sixth stage, Alexander Kristoff’s seventh place on stage four was the best result seen from Norwegian eyes. Dreaded big-cannon showdown Uno-X had ambitions before Thursday’s tough stage to join the break with Tobias Halland Johannessen, even if the victory ambitions were limited. – It’s probably not a stage that suits us well. It is short and intensive. I am afraid that there will be a showdown among the big guns, said Kurt Asle Arvesen, sports director of Uno-X, to TV 2 before the start. But when the break was established with Halland Johannessen and Danish Jonas Gregaard, TV 2’s cycling expert was optimistic. – They are in an extremely good position, said TV 2 expert Thor Hushovd about Uno-X. Into the mighty Col du Tourmalet, the break had gained a gap of nearly five minutes to the main field, but on the 2,115m high mountain the big guns began to show themselves. – Terrific stage With just over two kilometers to go to the top, Jumbo-Visma and Jonas Vingegaard picked up the pace and only Tadej Pogacar hung with the Dutch team. Vingegaard had with him assistant rider Sepp Kuss, while Pogacar was isolated alone without assistant riders. In the breakup, things also started to happen. – Tobias Halland Johannessen looks very strong. Regardless of the outcome, this is a great stage delivered by Halland Johannessen and Jonas Gregaard, Hushovd commented when the break broke up the Tourmalet and the Norwegian was left in a group of just five riders. Tobias Halland Johannessen in the group with Wout Van Aert, James Shaw, Ruben Guerreiro and Michal Kwiatkowski. Photo: Thibault Camus / AP With one and a half kilometers to go to the top, Vingegaard attacked again, but Pogacar hung on to the Dane, who has a lead of over a minute to the Slovenian in the summary after Wednesday’s great move. A few hundred meters further on, Halland Johannessen moved from the breakaway group to take the climbing points and the prize money at the top of the Col du Tourmalet. Pogacar beat back Vingegaard, Pocagar & co. gradually brought in the breaking group, and with that Johannessen’s chances of victory decreased. But the Norwegian looked sharp and hung on while Wout Van Aert, who was voted the most offensive rider of the day, led the way. In the group of seven riders, Johannessen was number five as they made their way through the bustling public life on their way up Cauterets-Campasque. With five kilometers to go, the tight group began to crack. Vingegaard, Pogacar and Kwiatkowski made a push on the last climb and then the others, including Johannessen, had to drop. With just under 2.5 kilometres, Pogacar attacked and then Vingegaard was unable to respond. Pogacar fought back after the criticism and took the stage win ahead of the Dane. Then Tobias Halland Johannessen came in for a strong third place.
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