Norwegian talent Johannes Staune-Mittet is set to depart Visma | Lease a Bike at the end of the season, despite having a contract that was due to run until the end of 2026. WielerFlits reported that the 22-year-old climber from Lillehammer will join the French team Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale, who have bought out his contract.
Staune-Mittet, who spent three years with Visma’s development squad before stepping up to the WorldTeam this year, has shown considerable promise in his young career. Last year, he won the prestigious Giro Next Gen, where he took a decisive victory on the mountain stage to the Passo dello Stelvio. In 2022, he also secured the overall title at the Ronde de l’Isard, and finished second in the Tour de l’Avenir, only trailing Cian Uijtdebroeks.
Reflecting on his development, Staune-Mittet’s 2022 season was a breakthrough. He placed sixth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23, fifth in the Alpes-Isère Tour, third in the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt, and fifth in the Tour of Czech Republic. His first professional win came a year later at the Czech Tour, a significant milestone for the Norwegian rider.
The move to Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale comes as Staune-Mittet seeks more opportunities to race for his own ambitions. With Ben O’Connor leaving the French outfit to join Jayco AlUla, there’s a gap for a new leader in stage races, and Staune-Mittet seems poised to step into that role. The move should also allow him to participate in bigger races earlier in his career.
