Until the popping of champagne corks could be heard in Paris, the eight Uno X riders in their first Tour de France appearance were clattering down the steps of the bright yellow and red team bus each morning with a quiet satisfaction and pride in what they had accomplished.

From veteran sprinter and Classics star Alexander Kristoff, 36, to Søren Werenskjold, the 2022 U-23 World TT champion, 13 years younger, the Norwegian first-time Tour team missed their pre-race goal of a stage win

However, the team's first Tour appearance in Norway was not enough.

Their fighting spirit, however, drew much praise from experienced rival team managers, such as Rod Ellingworth of Ineos Grenadiers, who was impressed that a Norwegian professional continental team was leading the way in the world's biggest cycling race

Highlight.

Highlights included former Tour de Lavenir winner Tobias Johannessen, 23, finishing third in the Cortale stage and sixth in Courchevel. Jonas Abrahamsen was also part of a four-man breakaway group that passed the pack at the finish in Bourg-en-Bresse earlier in the week, and Christophe finished sixth in a group sprint in Moulin in week two.

Uno-X team sport director Gabriel Rasch told Cycling News that the important thing is that the team is not overly impressed by the fact that it is rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest teams on the planet, and that so far, almost every day, they have found themselves He pointed out that they are in the thick of the action.

"Obviously, we are a small team coming here with hopes and expectations of winning a stage," Rasch said.

"But the way our guys are running, the way they attack the stage ...... have been in the top 10 many times, and we still have eight guys here, and they're all healthy. So overall, we're doing much better than we expected."

"We're doing well.

According to Rush, there have been two important takeaways for 2024.

"One was learning that there are definitely opportunities we can take, and after 18 days, I think they understand why," he says with a half-smile in an interview during the final week. That's the other lesson."

"We've been riding smart. We've kept everyone in check and told them to conserve energy."

Rasch pointed to that as a way that might suit Johannessen ahead of Saturday's grueling mountain stage.

Rasch's admiration for the team's ability to defend itself in all terrain and in races against top riders was evident when asked how many times riders have returned to the team car complaining about the rigors of the Tour.

"Not that many, to be honest. They seem a little overwhelmed by the level of the top two [Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogachar], but on the other hand, on stages like the Col de la Rose or over the Tourmalet, guys like Tobias are really up there. On those final stages, he has competed against the best. I am looking forward to the future."

On the other hand, Rasch was also impressed with Christophe's race, but admitted that as a group, their inexperience in the Tour sprint was a factor in their defeat and that they expended too much energy trying to gain positions.

"His best day was the day he finished sixth in Moulin. But in the last three or four kilometers I lost a little bit and then Sören Wehrenskjöld and Alex moved up. But by the time they got there [in front], I had already reached my limit."

"So they arrived, but meanwhile the other sprinters were free to drift a bit. So that's at least one of the reasons why the sprint didn't go well." 0]

The team showed on the Champs-Elysées that it also has a variety of options for a fast finish, like Kearnskijold, who finished eighth in Sunday's finale.

But it is not only in the high mountains and sprint stages that Uno-X is in action. In third-week breakaway stages like Thursday's, Abrahamsen finished third behind Kasper Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step), and on Friday, Anton Scharmig and Rasmus Tiller joined a big break of 32 through the foothills of the Jura.

"On Thursday I thought it would be a break or a group sprint or 50-50, but Kasper and Victor Kampenaerts (Lotto-Dostny) kept a minute in front at the right time and Pascal Enkhorn (Lotto-Dostny) crossed to make it four.

"It looked like a group sprint until 20km to go, but when Alpecin started to reduce the numbers, everything started to change.

Abrahamsen and Tiller were both planning to break away, but "initially we were expecting a bigger move. Abrahamsen is very enthusiastic and always wants it. But Abrahamsen is very enthusiastic and always wants it."

Such an upbeat attitude is typical of Uno X at this year's Tour, and according to Rush, has not only brought them some high scores, but is also great fuel for a possible return to racing in the future.

"It went better than we expected and the team atmosphere is great off the bike. So that's another really good reason to hope we get invited back next year."