A tough day on the Tour route turned into a nightmare for one cyclist. Norwegian rider Tobias Johannessen found himself in the middle of a big crash. It sent star cyclist Tadej Pogacar tumbling to the ground. Johannessen was quick to share his side of the story.
He felt truly awful about what happened to Pogacar. Johannessen explained he was trying to keep up with an attack. He realized he was too close to Pogacar. He thought everyone would move to the right, but he made a mistake. He said sorry again and again. Johannessen hoped Pogacar would be okay after such a fall. He wished he could go back and change things. But he could not, and that felt terrible.
A Terrifying Wave of Hate
The accident itself was bad enough. But what came next was truly shocking. Johannessen started getting threats online. This made his regret turn into fear. He could not believe the amount of hate flooding his inbox. He said it was “very scary” and that he would not wish this on anyone. The cyclist from Uno-X Mobility was clearly shaken by the online mob.
Pogacar Offers Reassurance
Thankfully, the story took a positive turn for Pogacar. Fellow cyclist Tim Wellens stepped in. He shared a video of Tadej Pogacar himself. In the clip, Pogacar made it clear he was doing fine. He even gave a thumbs up, a signal that he was ready to keep racing. This message likely brought some relief to Johannessen. It also showed that some accidents are just part of the race.
This incident highlights a growing problem in sports. Fans can quickly turn from cheering to sending harsh messages online. It is a reminder that athletes are real people. They face immense pressure. A simple mistake on the track should not lead to terrifying threats off it.