Although he had already confided in us when he was still a junior, the young norwegian, Johannes, evokes with ambition and audacity his transition to the professional world. He shares his vision for this new season and outlines the contours of his route before flying to the Middle East to participate in the Tour of Oman, renowned for its imposing mountains.
A dynamic and energetic start.
CT : Congratulations on your first steps within the UNOX Mobility professional team, Johannes ! Could you tell us your first impressions? ?
JK : The competitions are truly demanding. Having participated in numerous professional races already last year, I am familiar with this environment. However, the level of competition is extremely high. When I push my power to the functional threshold at approximately 90-95% during a relatively medium sized climb, it’s a real test. There are always around a hundred runners present, all being exceptionally efficient. To make a difference, we must resolve to intense accelerations of 1 at 2 minutes, even on several arduous climbs. Comparatively, among juniors and hopefuls, the level disparity is significant. When the best attack, there are often only around ten runners left in the running.
CT : Are you satisfied with your first outings in 2024 in Majorca ? What does it mean to have won the title of best young rider in your last round? ?
JK : I am satisfied with my shape. This race showed me that I had taken a step forward. It was really cool to run with Tobias [Johannessen]. First day, there was so little grip (rainy weather) that it looked a bit like bingo, that we inevitably fall at a given moment. During the queen round, I had a mechanical problem on the climb to Soller and I was never able to come back. So it was really cool on my last race to do a hard race with Tobias and come close to the podium. I think he deserved better. He had to attack a lot, so maybe we will have to race a little more calmly later in the season. Bug (Uriandstad) et Willy (Blume Levy) also did a great job throughout the days.
CT : What is the next part of your program? ?
JK : The Tour of Oman. I'm aiming for the podium in the general classification.
Heading towards new heights
CT : You had a successful season as a cyclist in 2023, by showcasing your climbing skills. How do you plan to exploit these successes in this new stage of your career? ?
JK : The goal is to continue to improve day after day. I want to use my age as an advantage and not as a source of stress. I still have a lot of room for improvement and I’m not putting undue pressure on myself..
CT : The transition from U23 cycling to the professional world can be demanding. How did you prepare yourself physically and mentally during this phase? ?
I worked more on believing in myself because a lot of things are linked to the confidence we give ourselves. The goal is to dare to get to the bottom of things and push my limits. As stated [Matthew] Mohoric during the last Tour de France. “Occasionally, it's so difficult that you feel like you don't belong, but you have to tell yourself that everyone is pushing at least as hard as you.”
CT : What are your short-term goals and in what state of mind are you approaching your second season with UNOX? ?
JK : I want to get better and better and see the difference I can make in a race. Last year, I just had to follow the shots but during the races in the Balearic Islands, I showed that I was much stronger and that I could make a difference for my team. Of course, I want to win. But I would also be happy if I could help the twins [Johannessen] or Andreas [Leknessund] for example to win, that if I won for myself.
CT : Regarding your climbing abilities, what mountain stages or specific races are you most looking forward to this year? ?
JK : I'm really looking forward to participating in the Volta de Catalunya. I've played this race a lot in Pro Cycling Manager since I was 6-7 years. I really like this race, so of course I want to do well there. otherwise, I don't want to classify my races, because I just want to go hard every time I run, without thinking about the size of the race.
CT : How would you describe your style of running and what aspects of cycling do you enjoy most as a runner? ?
JK : I would define myself as an attacker. I'm a little too enthusiastic and too excited. In races where I'm not the favorite, I still take a little too much responsibility by attacking. But I think now, when I run with Tobias, this is a big advantage. Because he is so strong but he never had enough teammates around him in decisive moments. So I hope that will change now and that I can help him, so I save more energy.
CT : What aspects are you looking to improve at the moment? ?
JK : I wholeheartedly try to improve everything about me. My climbing abilities, puncher, my peak speed and my good behavior downhill.
A quick path to success.
CT : While neo pro, what advice did you receive from your teammates or mentors to succeed at the elite level? ?
JK : Mainly it was suggested to me to stay focused and follow the road captain, to take a stand during crucial moments and not have too much respect for WT teams and established riders. If you want to be one of the established and deserving runners at some point, you have to beat them.
CT : The team lost many climbers during the offseason ; Do you feel any particular pressures when it comes to performance? ?
JK : I wouldn't say the team has really weakened at this level because we signed Andreas Leknessund, and Magnus Cort does well on the climbs. Our team is therefore much stronger than last year. I don't really feel any pressure, I just believe and trust myself.
CT : What inspires you about Tobias Johannessen and Andreas Leknessund, the two experienced climbers of the team ?
JK : I think about the amount of accomplishment they have done and their mentality. They are fearless runners who dare to exceed their limits and they have a very offensive running style. They are both young, but I feel like they take care of me
“We express our deep gratitude to Johannes Kulset for his availability and send him our sincere wishes for success throughout this season, as well as for the promising continuation of his career.”
