UAE Team Emirates surprises with new signing: "Julius Johansen returns to the WorldTour with a top team"
CyclingThursday, 21 November 2024 at 12:03
According to the Danish newspaper Ekstrabladet, UAE Team Emirates has added Julius Johansen to its roster. The Danish rider, who previously won Olympia's Tour and used to race for Intermarché-Wanty, spent last season with the small Portuguese team Sabgal-Anicolor. This transfer stands out as Johansen is making a significant leap back to the top level of cycling.
After his contract with the Belgian supermarket team wasn’t renewed last year, Johansen found himself racing at a much lower level for Sabgal. There he still managed some results, including an overall win at the GP Anicolor, in a series of Portuguese races. It’s not yet clear how UAE Team Emirates plans to use the Dane, but his move to a team with over 80 victories last season is certainly eye-catching.
Read more below the photo.
Johansen in action during Paris-Roubaix
Johansen to bolster UAE’s spring classics squad?
It seems UAE has signed Johansen with his potential in the spring classics in mind. The Dane has significant experience in these spring races and has played a supporting role for teams in stage races. In 2022, he made his grand tour debut at the Vuelta, and he’s also proven his talent in time trials — finishing third in the opening time trial at last year’s Tour Down Under.
In his younger years, Johansen won Olympia's Tour, a major race for U23 riders, and became a junior world champion. Although the Dane's career has yet to fully live up to early expectations, this new opportunity with UAE Team Emirates could be the spark that brings out the 25-year-old's full potential.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024