Pogačar is a natural phenomenon: Johannessen and the impossible challenge of the 2026 Tour de France

After Tadej Pogačar took complete control of the 2026 Tour de France in the first week, even some of the top riders were forced to throw in the towel, recognizing that the Slovenian is in a league of his own. Tobias Halland Johannessen , sixth in the overall standings for the 2025 edition of the Grande Boucle, didn't mince his words when describing him: "He's simply a phenomenon of nature."

Johannessen, 20th in the UCI rankings and 11th in the general classification on the eve of stage ten, lost ground on the Tourmalet stage, and a top-five finish in the general classification appears to be a daunting task. Pogačar holds a 2:42 lead over second-placed Jonas Vingegaard, and the Norwegian is already almost ten minutes behind the Slovenian.

The race has already become even more complicated for the Uno-X Mobility team: teammate Torstein Træen , who had worn the yellow jersey after the fourth stage, was forced to retire due to a crash. Despite this heavy loss, Johannessen remains a key figure for the Norwegian team, both in the overall standings and in the hunt for stage victories.

"It was a tough day for us, especially with Torstein and the crash, and now we've lost him. He was a valuable asset to the group, but looking back, there were some special moments," Johannessen said. "I think Pogačar will carry the yellow jersey all the way to Paris. There aren't many others who will enjoy the lead in this Tour, but those days in the yellow jersey still give us chills."

This isn't the first time Johannessen has faced Pogačar's power. Two years ago, on stage 15, he described the feeling of being overtaken and passed in a breakaway by the Slovenian and Vingegaard as "like I wasn't practicing the same sport as them." In 2026, his assessment is even more clear: "He's a natural phenomenon. He's an extraordinary cyclist, and he never falls, he never gets sick; he has the whole package."

The fact is, however, that Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG seem intent on dominating every opportunity, with Isaac del Toro ready to take over when the Slovenian himself isn't making the difference. For breakaway hunters like Johannessen, finding space will require instinct and perfect timing: "You have to have the right instinct, otherwise you're just wasting energy."

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency