Dylan Teuns crowns it on his own
August 13 th 2017 - 18:55
Bernhard Eisel again in the leading group
Following the show of the “Arctic Heroes of Tomorrow” and the victory of u19 Norwegian national champion Idar Andersen from Trondheim ahead of Martin Urienstad and Henrik Schwalb, both from Stavanger like Alexander Kristoff and Sven-Erik Bystrøm, despite a strong chase by Tromsø-native Andreas Leknessund who is the u19 European champion for individual time trial, seven riders formed a breakaway at the exit of Tromsø: Tony Hurel (Direct Energie), Bernhard Eisel (Dimension Data), Kenny Molly (Fortuneo-Oscaro), Dimitri Claeys (Cofidis), Ludvik Aspelund Holstad (Sparebanken Sør), Pavel Brutt (Gazprom-RusVelo) and Jon Soeveras Breivold (Team FixIT.no). Therefore the first intermediate sprint at Larseng, km 21, wasn't part of the fight for the overall win but a walk in the park for Hurel ahead of Brutt and Eisel. It was the third time in three days for “lakstrøyen” – salmon jersey – Eisel to be part of the breakaway as he eyed the defense of his lead in the King of the Mountains competition in the second half of the stage.
Dimitri Claeys soloes on the final circuit
The maximum advantage of the seven escapees was 5.45 after 35km of racing before some crosswinds created some excitement at the head of the peloton for a little while. Eisel and Claeys contested the first KOM price at Kattfjordeidet (km 94.5) and rode away from the front group. Sometimes helped by Astana but mostly by Coop, Katusha-Alpecin stabilized the time gap at 3.20 at half way. Eisel secured the salmon jersey in the hills of the finishing circuit and let Claeys go solo in the last 30 kilometres of racing. The Belgian from Cofidis surrendered 22km before the end, firstly rejoined by Sébastien Delfosse (WB-Veranclassic), Leszek Plucinsky (CCC Sprandi), Loïc Chetout (Cofidis), Andreï Grivko (Astana), Bystrøm (Katusha-Alpecin) and Norwegian champion Rasmus Tiller (Joker-Icopal).
Dylan Teuns alone in the last three kilometres
Bystrøm, Grivko and Chetout forged on with 10km to go. Fabien Grellier (Direct Energie) rejoined them but instead of the highly awaited sprint, a solo attack took place in the last hill with 3km to go. It was race leader Dylan Teuns himself who powered to victory. Runner up August Jensen (Coop) who was just three seconds adrift on GC was forced to react but the Belgian was gone and he rode as brilliantly downhill as uphill. In a thrilling finale, he got enough of a gap to enjoy another victory after stages and GC at the Tour de Wallonie and the Tour de Pologne to make it eight triumphs in three weeks, which is a rare achievement in professional cycling.