Arctic Race of Norway: the arctic circle, but with four sides
May 27 th 2013 - 14:15
Welcome to Bodo
At more than 1,000 kilometres to the north of Oslo, the riders coming from the Tour de France will again cross a symbolic line, but this time it will be that of the Arctic Circle. The race will start in Bodo, for a first stage that loops around a 192.5 km route that will also be the hilliest of the week. Among the five difficulties on the day’s programme, the pack will reach a top altitude of 500 metres after a ten-kilometre climb half way through the stage. The effort required should not, however, disrupt the plans of the sprinters for the battle at the finish.
A tour of the Lofoten Islands
During two days, the riders will carry out a genuine exploration of the Lofoten Islands, one of the jewels of the country. From one fishing port to another, the route will only rarely stray from the coast and will run alongside the mountainous relief that gives the landscape such personality. Between Svolvaer and Stokmarknes, the pack will be faced with a brand new experience, after having taken an undersea tunnel leading to the “lowest summit in the world”: points for the best climber classification will be attributed at an altitude of 5 metres!
A tense final circuit in Harstad
At the start of the 4th stage, the wearer of the blue and orange leader’s jersey will still have much to do. The most delicate and stressful part could even start on the entrance to Harstad, where a 6-kilometre circuit will be covered five times. In this thirty-kilometre long round-about, there will still be several precious bonus seconds up for grabs on two intermediate sprints before the finish. To spice things up even further, the finishing line is located at the top of a one-kilometre long slope that could be ideal for a puncher, inspiring riders whose speciality is a hold-up!
The stages on the Artic Race of Norway:
Thursday 8th August, stage 1: Bodo - Bodo, 192.5 km
Friday 9th August, stage 2: Svolvaer - Svolvaer, 156 km
Saturday 10th August, stage 3: Svolvaer - Stokmarknes, 201.5 km
Sunday 11th August, stage 4: Sortland - Harstad, 155 km