Pro Cyclist Loses Race After Mistaking Location Of Finish Line And Stopping Pedaling

Tobias Halland Johannessen is one of the top young riders in all of professional cycling.

The 24-year-old became just the second rider from Norway to win the Tour de L’Avenir (Tour of the Future) in 2021, which features the world’s top riders under 23.

But even riders as talented as Johannessen have brain farts, and on Friday, he had a major one to cost him a victory.

Johannessen was racing in the inaugural Classic Var. It is a one-day race that takes place in Var region of France and into the French Alps.

As the riders were going up the final climb of the day, Johannessen separated himself from the back. He pulled away and appeared to be on the way to sure victory.

But then something weird happened.

Johannessen punched the air in celebration and stopped pedaling only meters short of the finish line. In the meantime, young French star Lenny Martinez sprinted for the finish line, throwing his bike forward to just barely beat Johannessen to victory.

A stunned and confused Johannessen threw his hands up, unsure of what in the world had just happened.

 

As it turns out, Johannessen crossed under an arch shortly before the finish line and appears to have mistaken the arch for the finish line.

Instead, Martinez kept pedaling and stole the win right out from under him.

But fear not, Tobias. You are not alone!

Wout Van Aert, one of the world’s biggest cycling stars, made almost the exact same mistake a couple of years ago.

Like Van Aert, Johannessen will likely go on to make much bigger memories. Friday’s race was a small one early on in the annual cycling calendar. And Johannessen has the talent to go on and win far more important races.

But for the time being, he’ll have to explain to his teammates and team bosses why he let a sure win slip away.