Arctic Race of Norway 2022 (August 11-14)

[Barnacle Bill]

The "northernmost pro bike race" will take place entirely below the Arctic Circle for the first time. Perhaps not the best timing given the new trophy celebrating racing above the Arctic Circle, but to be fair it gets pretty close.

Thursday 11th August, stage 1: Mo I Rana > Mo I Rana, 186,8 km - Flat

Friday 12th August, stage 2: Mosjøen > Brønnøysund, 154,3 km - Flat

Saturday 13th August, stage 3: Namsos > Skallstuggu summit (Levanger), 177,7 km - Hilly

Sunday 14th August, stage 4: Trondheim > Trondheim, 159,1 km - Hilly

Defending champion Ben Hermans isn't in the field this year, although Israel-Premier Tech are sending their two recent stage winners on the Tour de France, Hugo Houle and Simon Clarke. BikeExchange-Jayco are appearing for the first time, with Dylan Groenewegen, and other new teams include China Glory Continental Cycling and Trinity Racing.

Australia
Team BikeExchange-Jayco : Groenewegen (Ned), Jansen (Nor), Schultz (Aus)

Belgium
Alpecin-Deceuninck : Gogl (Aut), Sbaragli (Ita)
Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB : Livyns (Bel), L. Wirtgen (Lux)
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux : Bystrom (Nor), Hermans (Bel), Van der Hoorn (Ned)
Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise : Marit, Reynders (Bel)

China
China Glory Continental Cycling Team: Bennett (USA), Lyu (Chn)

France
B&B Hotels-KTM : Mozzato (Ita), Koretzky (Fra)
Cofidis : Lafay, Pérez (Fra)
Team Arkea-Samsic : Vauquelin (Fra), Verre (Ita)
TotalEnergies : Boasson Hagen (Nor), Burgaudeau (Fra)

Great Britain
Team Trinity Racing : Gloag (Gbr), Porter (Aus)

Israel
Israel-Premier Tech: Bevin (Nzl), Hagen (Nor), Neilands (Lat), Clarke (Aus), Houle (Can)

Kazakhstan
Astana Qazaqstan Team : Conti, Gazzoli (Ita)

Netherlands
Team DSM : Leknessund (Nor), Bol (Ned), Donovan (Gbr)

Norway
Team Coop : Stokbro (Den), Aalrust (Nor)
Uno X-Pro Cycling Team : T. Johannessen, Andersen (Nor)

Spain
Burgos-BH: Raïm (Est), Orts (Spa)
Euskaltel-Euskadi: Aristi, Maté (Spa)

USA
Human Powered Health : Aasvold, Jensen (Nor)

https://www.arctic-race-of-norway.com/en/

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Some shots from the 2021 edition:

 

[Red Rick]

Wait Svalbard isn't happening?

 

[Samamba]

Hermans vs. Johannessen (if fit).

Pretty bad field for a .Pro race. Bit dissapointing.
Israel on points hunt with that team. I wouldn't be surprised if they get 3 riders in the top 10 but don't make podium.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Tobias Halland Johannesen (and Tiller) apparently got food poisoning in Poland and lost 5 kilos. Did his first short training ride two days ago and did a 3 hour ride yesterday. Hopefully it’s enough time to get back in good shape before the first important GC stage on Saturday.

 

[Valanga]

How can you have an arctic race when you're not racing in the arctic?
It's like a Tour de France entirely in Belgium (ok you'll have to tour a lot around Belgium, but still). Close, but not really.

 

[RedheadDane]

How can you have an arctic race when you're not racing in the arctic?
It's like a Tour de France entirely in Belgium (ok you'll have to tour a lot around Belgium, but still). Close, but not really.

The Not Quite Arctic Race of Norway.

 

[tobydawq]

The Not Quite Arctic Race of Norway.

At least it isn't Antarctic.

 

[Ricco']

This (and the extinct Tour of Fjords) is the only race where I don't mind 5 flat stages with the peloton going around 30 kph. Stunning scenery.

 

[ice&fire]

Wait Svalbard isn't happening?

Do polar bears like cycling?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Wait Svalbard isn't happening?

It was never meant to be this year, but for the 10 years anniversary of Artic Race next year it might happen. In November last year the organizing committee of Artic Race was at Svalbard and had some sort of "town hall meeting" with the locals. I think it's doable, let's say it's 50/50 right now.

 

[Red Rick]

Do polar bears like cycling?

They may like cyclists

 

[ice&fire]

It was never meant to be this year, but for the 10 years anniversary of Artic Race next year it might happen. In November last year the organizing committee of Artic Race was at Svalbard and had some sort of "town hall meeting" with the locals. I think it's doable, let's say it's 50/50 right now.

This sounds like the yearly rumour of Canary Islands in the Vuelta. I assume that would be in Longyearbyen, right?

 

[laarsland]

The Not Quite Arctic Race of Norway.

TRFKAAROF (The race formerly know as…)

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

This sounds like the yearly rumour of Canary Islands in the Vuelta. I assume that would be in Longyearbyen, right?

I don’t think it’s the same way. There were serious talks about it around 2016 then it was not an option until last year when they started working last year to make it happen in 2023. I do think they are serious about it, but it might not be possible.

 

[RedheadDane]

How would it work with the "carrying a rifle outside is required" rule?
Guess they'll just hope the polar bears would get scared away by all the people...

 

[lemon cheese cake]

How would it work with the "carrying a rifle outside is required" rule?
Guess they'll just hope the polar bears would get scared away by all the people...

Domestiques carry those.

 

[Mayomaniac]

How would it work with the "carrying a rifle outside is required" rule?
Guess they'll just hope the polar bears would get scared away by all the people...

Biathlon on bikes!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Biathlon on bikes!

That would be great!

But it appears they've gone with swords instead of rifles this year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1557417743988576256

View: https://twitter.com/ArcticRaceofN/status/1557417743988576256

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Biathlon on bikes!

Wouldn‘t mind if they introduced this instead of normal summer biathlon events. Preferably without polar bears

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

There are barely any roads on Svalbard, what exactly would be the plan? An ITT at the airport? Even if you include gravel, do you even get to more than 50km for a single stage?

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Yes the talk has been a TT.
I have never been up there but i guess some kind of criterium stage should be possible too?
Could bring back the old classic of stage 1a and stage 1b in the same day, which modern cycling seems to have abandoned?

 

[tobydawq]

Yes the talk has been a TT.
I have never been up there but i guess some kind of criterium stage should be possible too?
Could bring back the old classic of stage 1a and stage 1b in the same day, which modern cycling seems to have abandoned?

The riders didn't care for that format. However, on such a special occasion maybe there could be an exemption.

 

[RedheadDane]

That would be great!

But it appears they've gone with swords instead of rifles this year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1557417743988576256

View: https://twitter.com/ArcticRaceofN/status/1557417743988576256

Some of these guys are definitely more into it than others.

 

[tobydawq]

Do they need the swords to chop up Martin Salmon?

Or was that the Tour of Norway?