Arctic Race of Norway: info with one day to go

August 4 ^th 2021 - 19:30

Key points:  

• Race ambassador Thor Hushovd welcomes 111 participants from 19 teams in northern Norway.
• Warren Barguil and Ben Hermans in contention for GC, Alexander Kristoff leads the sprinters’ field.
• Andreas Leknessund to make his debut in his home race that inspired him to become a pro cyclist.  

Thor Hushovd: “I’ve missed the Arctic Race a lot last year”  

A dedicated ambassador for the Arctic Race of Norway since its inception in 2013, Thor Hushovd welcomed eight top riders who used the “Fjellheisen”, the popular cable car that enables visitors to overlook the city of Tromsø from Storsteinen, to get a first taste of what the event is all about: the view! Norway’s favourite Alexander Kristoff who flew from Stavanger in the morning was busy training on his bike missed out while his fellow compatriots Edvald Boasson Hagen, Odd Christian Eiking, Markus Hoelgaard, Andreas Leknessund met Belgians Ben Hermans and Oliver Naesen as well as Frenchmen Warren Barguil and Bryan Coquard 420 metres above sea level. “It feels great to be back”, Hushovd said. “I’ve missed the Arctic Race of Norway badly last year but it was the right decision to cancel it due to the pandemics as much as it’s the right decision to have it again this year. I got the chance to discover this part of my country thanks to this event and I love the people up here. They’re very straightforward. This year’s course is pretty similar to what we’ve done in 2015. But the finale in Harstad on Sunday is a little bit harder in my opinion than the previous one.” Hushovd won the last stage in Harstad and the overall in 2013. Kristoff won stage 1 in Harstad two years later, beating Boasson Hagen who said: “That was my only participation to the race and I’m delighted to come back. It’s actually my second visit to northern Norway. I’ve taken a good rest and I feel ready for the last part of the season.”

Hoelgaard and Eiking to try and repeat 2019  

Hoelgaard is the last stage winner of the ARN up to date as he claimed an emotional win in Narvik two years ago. He returned from the Olympic Games in Japan to hunt for another victory at the helm of Norway’s number 1 team Uno-X. “My shape was good at the Olympics (34th) and also since I came back home”, he said. “I think I’m ready for the race. I hope to win back to back stages tomorrow even though it’s been two years! With Odd Christian [Eiking] and Andreas [Leknessund], we have several Norwegians who can win a stage here.” Eiking was the second last stage winner of the ARN as he was first at the Storheia summit in 2019. The Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux climber is fresh from finishing 7th at the Klasika San Sebastian on Saturday. “I think I’m on good form”, he commented. “I was feeling strong at the Tour de Wallonie as well. I hope to win a stage again and moreover to be up there for GC as well this time.”

Warren Barguil: “I hope my level is good enough for winning”  

Warren Barguil had in mind to take advantage of his Tour de France to try and win the Arctic Race of Norway after he missed out by only one second two years ago but a crash changed his plans. However, he paid another trip to northern Norway with the same enthusiasm. “Since my crash at the Tour de France, I tried to recover and it took me some time. It’s been difficult. I trained well but my condition was still a bit too short at San Sebastian on Saturday. I was close to hold on to the front group of thirty riders. I’m getting better and better. I’m not at my best level yet but I hope it’s good enough to enjoy racing here. I love this race. The landscapes are wonderful and the course suits me well. It’s a hard one. Stage 1 could already shape the GC. The queen stage is on Saturday and we know that the final victory can be decided at the eleventh hour on Sunday. I’d really like to add my name to the record book of this beautiful race.”

The highly awaited debut of homeboy Andreas Leknessund  

Four years ago, Andreas Leknessund took part in the Heroes of Tomorrow’s race organised by Equinor in Tromsø. Aged 18, he was European champion for individual time trial in the junior category. Further back in 2014, when Tromsø, his hometown, hosted the Arctic Race of Norway for the first time, he was a 15 year old boy hunting for bidons. “I started cycling for fun when I was 12 but big part of my inspiration to become a pro cyclist came from watching the Arctic Race here”, he declared, showing from the above the place where he grew up until he moved to Oslo at the age of 16. “It’s pretty big for me to finally get a chance to take part in the race. It’s also very special to have stage 1 in Tromsø this year. I’m part of the national team along with Kristoff who was the winner here in 2014 when I was a kid on the road side. We can deliver good results tomorrow and the following days. I haven’t raced much recently but there’s no reason why my shape shouldn’t be good. Hard races suit me the best, so this one can be a good one for me.” Leknessund also represented Norway at the Olympic road race (83rd) but indicated at the Tour de Suisse in June that he’s a strong climber in the making at the age of 22 in his first year as a WorldTour rider with DSM.

Route of the 2021 Arctic Race of Norway:  

• Thursday 5th August, stage 1:  Tromsø – Tromsø, 142,4km
• Friday 6th August, stage 2: Nordkjosbotn – Storfjord / Kilpisjärvi, 177,6km
• Saturday 7th August, stage 3: Finnsnes – Målselv, 184,5km
• Sunday 8th August, stage 4: Gratangen - Harstad, 163,3km