Alexander Kristoff strikes again
August 11 th 2016 - 18:27
Seven riders in the lead from the start
130 riders started stage 1 of the fourth Arctic Race of Norway after Italy's Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling) went home due to sickness. Krister Hagen (Coop-Østerhus), Maxime Cam (Fortuneo-Vital Concept), Tom Van Asbroeck (LottoNL-Jumbo), Gregory Rast (Trek-Segafredo), Andreas Schillinger (Bora-Argon 18), Kenny de Ketele (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Max Emil Kørner (Team Ringeriks Kraft) rode away from the gun. After 50km of racing, their advantage was 6.25 over the peloton mostly led by Katusha with the help of one FDJ rider. Rast won the first intermediate sprint in Bodø ahead of Hagen and Cam.
Schillinger wins one year of salmon products
Rast also won the second intermediate sprint with 44km to go while the time difference was reduced by the peloton to 4.15. It went down to 2.10 with 25km to go when the rain became a decisive factor and Rast and Schillinger dropped their breakaway companions in the first category climb of Ljøsenhammeren. Alone at the top, Schillinger won one year's worth of salmon products (smoked salmon, pepper-salmon) – given by Flakstadvåg Laks. BMC was very active in bringing the peloton across before Trek-Segafredo took over with Italian champion Giacomo Nizzolo putting himself at the service of Niccolo Bonfazio.
Kristoff in extremis
Among the top sprinters who survived the climb, Arnaud Démare was the one who suffered the difficult racing condition. The Frenchman was caught in a split 7km before the finish while Kristoff was deprived of a few of his team-mates. Attacker Amund Groendahl Jansen of Joker-Byggtorget was first to rejoin Schillinger with 4.5km to go but only a few seconds before the bunch was packed again. Giant-Alpecin set up the sprint for Degenkolb but Kristoff passed him at the very end despite being isolated. Degenkolb's high cadence in the last 100 metres evidenced a mechanical problem. Danny van Poppel of Team Sky took third place in Rognan. All defeated sprinters hope for a revenge in the flatter stage 2 from Mo i Rana to Sandnessjøen.