Arctic Race of Norway 2014 (2.1) 14.08 - 17.08

[neineinei]

Stage 1 (Thursday 14.08) Hammerfest / Nordkapp, 204 KM

The climb to the 5 m KOM at Nordkapptunnelen summit starts at 212 meters below sea level in the sub sea tunel.

Weather forcast (8°, strong breeze and some rain)

Offical website

Teams:

BELKIN PRO CYCLING
BMC RACING TEAM
BRETAGNE - SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT
CANNONDALE
COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS
IAM CYCLING
TEAM KATUSHA
MTN - QHUBEKA
ROUBAIX LILLE METROPOLE
TEAM FIXIT.NO
TEAM GIANT - SHIMANO
TEAM JOKER
TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA
TEAM RINGERIKS - KRAFT
TEAM SPAREBANKEN SØR
TEAM ØSTER HUS - RIDLEY
TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - BALOISE
UNITEDHEALTHCARE
WALLONIE - BRUXELLES
WANTY - GROUPE GOBERT

 

[neineinei]

Stage 2 (Friday 15.08) Honningsvåg / Alta, 207 KM

Stage 3 (Saturday 16.08) Alta / Kvænangsfjellet, 132 KM

 

[neineinei]

Stage 4 (Sunday 17.08) Tromsø / Tromsø, 165 KM

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Awesome race, even if just for the scenery.

But unlike last year, it looks like they found some climbs!

 

[maltiv]

Stage 1 and 3 looks pretty good. Probably Nordhaug for the win if he, for once, races with his head.

Too bad Odd Christian Eiking isn't riding, but I guess it's reasonable for him to rest a bit ahead of l'Avenir.

 

[kjetilraknerud]

The final climb on stage 3 is 7km at 5 %, but with several steeper sections. Good climb for Nordhaug to win in Norway

 

[Hugo87]

Rooting for Kristoff show, but with that final climb on stage 3 he can forget the overall GC.

 

[LosBrolin]

So Simon Spilak will at least enjoy the weather cause that ~ 8°

Nice to see Sepúlveda riding also, last time was at Boucles de la Mayenne in June and then injury(?) right before TDF.

 

[Erythropoietin]

Looking forward to this. Nordhaug for the win.

 

[Hakkapelit]

So Simon Spilak will at least enjoy the weather cause that ~ 8°

Nice to see Sepúlveda riding also, last time was at Boucles de la Mayenne in June and then injury(?) right before TDF.

Meh, it's not rainy enough methinks...


PS. Is Kristoff from around this area?

 

[kjetilraknerud]

PS. Is Kristoff from around this area?

No, not even close

 

[roundabout]

A race through the tundra with more reindeer than people. At least for the first couple of stages

At least the terrain is okay, otherwise it would be nordic version of the tour of Qatar.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

So the first edition was for Hushovd, and this one is for Nordhaug.

Next year all stages will be over 250km.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

They say the best thing about flat stages is the scenery, and nowhere is this going to be more true than here.

The Tromsø stage bears a resemblance to the closing loop on a one-day race I designed in the area in the Race Design thread, although I did the loop in the opposite direction.

 

[Arnout]

So the first edition was for Hushovd, and this one is for Nordhaug.

Next year all stages will be over 250km.

For EBH?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Today could provide some fun racing in the last 50km if anybody bothers.

Kristoff or Hushovd, but maybe van Asbroeck can send another reminder. And what about Gatto or Villeilla. Can they wave the Italian flag up North?

So, we have three races with live TV production going on today. Whats the chance of all three finishing about the same time?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hushovd having a discussion with the clan.

race about to start.

Twicker: https://twitter.com/ArcticRaceofN

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Live now
http://www.frombar.com/20140814/vv53ec3e6359c2f2.76528198-868521.html

 

[ToreBear]

Just saw a Belkin rider at the front going for a pee. It looked like he forgot to account for the wind. I'm sure he will be popular with the rest of the peloton.

The wind is about 11/ms(40 kph) at the finish, so this could be a complicating factor.

http://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Finnmark/Nordkapp/Nordkapp/hour_by_hour.html

 

[TourOfSardinia]

light at the end of the tunnel

 

[TourOfSardinia]

record shot

Break: down to 2
K.Seeldraeyers
A.Jensen

 

[theyoungest]

Who pays for this race? Not a living soul out there, except for the odd moose.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Who pays for this race? Not a living soul out there, except for the odd moose.

StaOil I think
Plus
you missed the musical band all wearing bike helmets while playing!
Fun
in a cold climate.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

-24km @ 33s
Jensen goes it alone

all back together again

penultimate climb - attacks galore!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

9 km's to go. Brändle has a 20 seconds lead. Kittel still in the peloton for the time being.