The how and why of Johannes Staune-Mittet: "Opportunities at Visma | Lease a Bike would be limited"

The cycling teams are heading to Spain en masse for the first training camps. Decathlon AG2R goes by charter flight. After the 2025 team was presented to sponsors and the media at the OSC Lille soccer stadium, it received a first look at newcomer Johannes Staune-Mittet, with whom IDLProCycling.com spoke at length about his transfer from Visma | Lease a Bike.

What was the deal? Staune-Mittet transferred to the pros last season by winning the Giro Next Gen. However, the strong Norwegian could not immediately claim a place in the grand tour selections at the strong Visma | Lease a Bike team, although that is where his strengths lie.

On the other hand, Decathlon AG2R is busy looking for talent for the coming years and knew they would not be able to buy a replacement for Ben O'Connor immediately but would have to train him themselves. So they ended up at Staune-Mittet, which, along with Visma | Lease a Bike, was willing to consider a good solution for all parties. And so the deal was made, according to the very friendly Norwegian.

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Staune-Mittet explains transfer from Visma | Lease a Bike to Decathlon AG2R

Why did you choose Decathlon AG2R?

"I think it wasn't just my choice. Of course, in the end, it is, but it is also a choice of all three parties. I have to want to go, Visma | Lease a Bike has to want to let me go, and another team also has to want me on the team. When the opportunity presented itself, and it was also clear that my possibilities within Visma | Lease a Bike would also be limited in the coming years due to the team they have, we made the decision.

I understood Decathlon AG2R's plans well and thought it would be foolish not to commit. This way, I leave my comfort zone and take on something new, which can always have a positive consequence. You do stimulate something in a way."

Was it hard to leave your friends at Visma | Lease a Bike after three years with the development team and only one season with the pros?

"That was the hardest part for me. You make several good friends in four years, so that's not easy to leave behind. Not too much has changed: I wake up every morning, get on my bike, and do whatever it takes. But I will miss the trips with some of those guys, although you always make new friends."

When did the process of leaving Visma | Lease a Bike begin?

"It wasn't that I had to leave. I wouldn't have done it if there wasn't a good opportunity coming along with a great team. So when this chance presented itself in this project, which I believed in, that changed. I think it was just before the summer. Moving from the U23 to the WorldTour is hard, but after talking to my manager, we decided exploring our alternatives was a good idea. I didn't want to just jump on another train, but I saw enough possibilities here."

You're also leaving the performance branch at Visma | Lease a Bike, which is reputed to be one of the best in the world. Did that factor into your decision?

"No, because I think you can also see the developments in that area at Decathlon AG2R. Some things will probably be different, but things can also be better. You win some, you lose some. I'm already doing some things differently, which is making me feel good. In any case, I believe this team has also taken a good path."

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Is there a long-term plan?

"I have signed a three-year contract. I will become part of the group for the big tours. That doesn't mean I will compete for wins in grand tours right away because, in my opinion, that's still unrealistic. To prove yourself, you have to be part of it first. At Visma | Lease a Bike, it looked like I wouldn't be able to ride a grand tour for the next two years, which made the choice easier for me. I hope to ride big races, but I would also like to support Felix Gall."

Do you already know anything about your program?

"I know I will be sleeping in an altitude tent in January and going to altitude in February, so my race program will probably start in the second half of February. In terms of grand tours, we don't know exactly what it will be yet, but at least one is planned. I think I'll know more after training camp."

In any case, I saw on Strava that you were already training hard but on Zwift. Rides of three to four hours on Zwift, that's mentally draining.

"I was in Norway, where I wanted to spend more days at home. After that last session, I was exhausted, but it was OK for a while. If you have to Zwift for four or five days, the end is pretty much in sight."

You are not the only Scandinavian on the team, as Tord Gudmestad and Rasmus Sojberg Pedersen are also joining the team. And then there are also two Danes and two Norwegians in the training squad. Is there a reason behind that?

"I don't know the reason, but at least for me, it's always nice to have someone you can talk to in your own language. It certainly is, but it wouldn't be a dealbreaker. It's an international team, so you must also face that language challenge."

Do you expect a culture shock now that you are moving from Visma | Lease a Bike, with Dutch culture, to Decathlon AG2R, with French culture?

"The Dutch culture is very direct, but I don't expect an immediate shock. There is much room for feedback, but so is Decathlon AG2R. I think this is the French team ahead in development, so it is still similar in that respect. Admittedly, with a different language and different people."

How did you experience that Dutch culture?

"I think I was able to adapt well to it. You're young and want to learn a lot, so at some point, you learn to appreciate that people don't beat around the bush. We do that in Norway, but that doesn't apply in the Netherlands. It can be enormously useful, but sometimes it might be possible in a slightly more diplomatic way."

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What is your opinion of your results last year?

"I needed some time after I dropped out in Tour de l'Avenir, which is not what you want when you start your first pro year. But I showed that I can achieve a lot on a good day. It was a long season, starting in Australia and ending in China. Towards the end, I felt myself getting stronger, which has extended to now."

As a former Baby Giro winner, I know people expect a lot from you.

"That's true. Maybe the team also expected more results, which is their right. But you can't develop faster than is possible, and I'm happy with the steps I've made so far. I put all the work in, and I hope I can make another step after one year of WorldTour, although you can't just assume it will be as fast as some other riders. But I'm OK with that; I want to get the most out of it."

Do you also take something away from having worked with stars like Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard?

"I hope it made me stronger, but they are also normal. And that's how they behave, so oddly enough, it's not special. In a way, the strongest riders are even the warmest."

What did your good friend Per Strand Hagenes, with whom you went on a holiday to Gran Canaria, say when you left?

"I even included him in the process. Of course, you need people to talk to. You have your family and your manager ... but I also called Per and asked for his opinion at some point. He supported me as a good friend, and I greatly appreciate it. He understood the explanation and is happy for me, but I'm also happy he signed a new contract with Visma | Lease a Bike."

Last question: Visma is a Norwegian sponsor, and now they are losing one of their biggest talents. Did they not take notice?

"Not that I know of, but Per and Jorgen Nordhagen have maybe even bigger talents than I do. So I don't think they have to worry about that."

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