Silva Supreme on Storheia
August 15 th 2026 - 18:38 [GMT + 2]
The demanding Storheia climb (3.5 km at 11.8%) promised to be the scene of a major showdown between the favourites for the 2026 Arctic Race of Norway. The first slopes of the “Norwegian Mont Ventoux” allowed the best climbers to break clear and battle it out for victory. Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto Intermarché) took control in the final part of the climb, but Guillermo Thomas Silva (XDS Astana) countered his attack with 300 metres to go. The Belgian fought all the way to the line in an attempt to catch the Uruguayan, who ultimately edged out his rival to take the win. The first South American to win a stage of the race, Silva also takes the Midnight Sun jersey, ahead of Van Eetvelt (+10”) and Alessandro Pinarello (NSN, +21”). His triumph on the queen stage of this 13th edition puts him in pole position to claim the overall victory. Tomorrow, his rivals will have 190.5 kilometres to try to dethrone him on the way to Narvik, where the final climb (3.9 km at 6.2%) promises a thrilling finish.
The shortest stage of the 2026 Arctic Race of Norway (146.5 kilometres) is also the queen stage, and for good reason: it finishes with the ascent of Storheia, a 3.5-kilometre climb averaging 11.8%. It was here, on the slopes of the “Norwegian Mont Ventoux”, that local rider Odd Christian Eiking (Uno-X Mobility) claimed the finest victory of his career in 2019. And it is here, too, that the standings of this 13th edition are expected to change this Saturday. The overall leader thanks to his results in the opening two stages (victory in Myre, third place in Andenes), Italian sprinter Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta) knows that his reign is under threat from the climbers. They conserved their energy during the first two days, waiting for Storheia to make their move.
Wang Baksaas defends his Northern Lights jersey
The pace picks up from the start, which is given in light rain in Stokmarknes, hosting a stage for the second time (it previously welcomed the finish of Stage 3 in 2013). The peloton stretches out, and five riders break clear after three kilometres of racing. Finland’s champion Axel Källberg (Lucky Sport) joins four Norwegians in the breakaway: his teammate Morthen Wang Baksaas, wearing the Northern Lights jersey; his closest rival in the mountains classification, Eirik Vang Aas (Drali-Repsol); and fellow Norwegians Thomas Eriksen (Lillehammer CK) and Aksel Laforce (Ringerike).
The battle for the Northern Lights jersey is already in full swing on the first categorised climb, Storvatnet (km 26.8 / 1.7 km at 7%). Vang Aas reaches the summit first ahead of Wang Baksaas and Källberg, who then surprises his rivals on the second ascent of Storvatnet (km 55.9). He takes the three points ahead of Vang Aas and Wang Baksaas, who retains the lead in the mountains classification by a single point. He doesn’t know it yet, but two hours later he will pull on the jersey for the third consecutive time on the finish-line podium.
Kallberg, the last to resist
After giving the leaders a little more than two minutes’ advantage, the peloton slowly but surely begins to close the gap. It is down to one minute with 70 kilometres to go, as the riders enter the second half of the stage. Caught shortly afterwards, Vang Aas and Wang Baksaas leave their three breakaway companions to continue without them. They still have a one-minute lead at the intermediate sprint in Stokmarknes (km 112), won by Kallberg.
The trio continues its effort towards the Storheia climb, but the gap keeps shrinking. The pack is just 30 seconds behind with 10 kilometres to go, shortly before Kallberg decides to go it alone. The Finnish champion is eventually caught by the peloton 4.5 kilometres from the finish, in the woods before the start of the Storheia ascent. His many efforts throughout the day, and his 139-kilometre breakaway, nevertheless earn him the combativity award.
Silva conquers the “Norwegian Mont Ventoux”
Thomas Gachinard (TotalEnergies) takes control at the start of the climb, with Robbe Dhondt (Picnic PostNL) following closely in his wheel. The favourites, including Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto Intermarché), Felix Engelhardt (Jayco AlUla) and Alessandro Pinarello (NSN), battle for position at the front. Fabio Christen (Pinarello-Q36.5) moves into the lead with 1.7 kilometres to go, in an increasingly reduced group of contenders, but Dhondt and his teammate Bert Bolle take over at the front.
Van Eetvelt launches his attack in the final 500 metres, but Guillermo Thomas Silva (XDS Astana) is ready. The Uruguayan responds with 300 metres to go and opens up a small gap on the Belgian. Van Eetvelt keeps up the pressure all the way to the line, but Silva holds firm to claim victory at Storheia. He becomes the first South American to win a stage of the race and to take the Midnight Sun jersey, ahead of Van Eetvelt (+10”), Pinarello (+21”), Dhondt (+25”) and Engelhardt (+31”).
Uruguay becomes the 17th country to win on the Arctic Race of Norway, and the 12th to lead the general classification. Will it become the 11th country to win the race tomorrow? The answer will come 190.5 kilometres later in Narvik, with the finish at the foot of the slopes that will host the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships. In three years’ time, they will crown the best downhill skier; this Sunday, they will celebrate the best climber in the peloton.
In memory of Finlay Tarling
At the start of Stage 3, the riders, teams, organizers, and spectators of the Arctic Race of Norway paid tribute to Finlay Tarling, NSN Development Team rider who passed away yesterday. The Arctic Race of Norway is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Finlay Tarling. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates.
