Arctic Race of Norway 2023 (August 17-20)

[Barnacle Bill]

For the 10th anniversary edition of the Arctic Race of Norway, marked by celebrations at the "Norwegian day in the finish area of the 15th stage at the foot of Mont Blanc" during the TDF, we get a route entirely above the Arctic Circle - quite a contrast to last year's more Southerly location.

Thursday 17th August, stage 1: Kautokeino > Alta, 171 km

Friday 18th August, stage 2: Alta > Hammerfest, 153,5 km

Saturday 19th August, stage 3: Hammerfest > Havøysund summit, 167 km

Sunday 20th August, stage 4: Kvalsund > Nordkapp, 171.5 km

Defending champion Andreas Leknessund returns, with 6 World Tour teams taking part this year, as well as plucky minnows from the lower tiers such as Trinity Racing, Equipo Kern Pharma and Israel-Premier Tech.

18 teams, main contenders :

Australia
Team Jayco AlUla: De Marchi (ITA), Jansen (NOR), Quick (AUS) and Štybar (CZE)

Belgium
Bingoal–WB: Guerin (FRA)
Team Flanders–Baloise: Bonneu (BEL)

Spain
Burgos BH: Navarro (ESP) and Barthe (FRA)
Equipo Kern Pharma: Adrià and Arrieta (ESP)

United States
Human Powered Health: Aasvold, Jensen (NOR) and Double (GBR)
Lidl–Trek: Hoelgaard (NOR), Tolhoek (NED) and Baroncini (ITA)

France
Cofidis: Martin (FRA) and Geschke (GER)
Groupama–FDJ: Gruel (FRA)
Team Arkéa–Samsic: Champoussin (FRA) and Verre (ITA)

Israel
Israel–Premier Tech: Teuns (BEL) and Impey (RSA)

Kazakhstan
Astana Qazaqstan Team: Scaroni (ITA) and Zeits (KAZ)

Norway
Norwegian national team: Eiking (NOR)
Team Coop–Repsol: Christophersen (NOR)
Uno X-Pro Cycling Team: Dversnes, Tiller (NOR) and Wilsly (DEN)

Netherlands
Team DSM–Firmenich: Leknessund (NOR), Dainese (ITA), Dinham (AUS) and Vanhoucke (BEL)

United Kingdom
Trinity Racing: Johnston (AUS)

Switzerland
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team: Hagen (NOR) and Małecki (POL)

Official website of Arctic Race of Norway cycling race 2025

All informations of Arctic Race of Norway cycling race 2025

www.arctic-race-of-norway.com

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Some shots from the 2022 edition:

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Tobias Halland Johannesen should be one of the favorites, these punchy hills should suit him well. Interesting to see his form after the Tour. Wasn't impressive at WC RR, but seems on Strava like his training has been okay since Glasgow.

Leknessund also a clear candidate for the win. If he can climb like he did in the Giro on Cappuccini on the finishing climb on stage 3 he might defend his title from last year.

Dylan Teuns is probably the biggest name and should definitively count as one of the favorites and Clement Champoussin should also be considered. I haven't seen Lidl-Treks team, they might bring some interesting riders as well.

 

[RedheadDane]

Gregaard to win the first stage!
Would be a nice mirror of the result of stage 1 in Denmark.

 

[yaco]

I expected this to have a weak start list which has been vindicated - For example, Jayco Alula's team is amazing - Jansen first race for the season, Stybar and Balmer have not raced for 4 months, they also bring a stagiare in McKenzie, while Quick is a nep-pro has struggled while Colleoni has struggled in the WT environment.

 

[Samamba]

And Netserk thought Denmark's start list was bad... Jesus christ.

 

[RedheadDane]

And Netserk thought Denmark's start list was bad... Jesus christ.

Well, there's a Champion...

 

[SafeBet]

Tobias Halland Johannesen should be one of the favorites, these punchy hills should suit him well. Interesting to see his form after the Tour. Wasn't impressive at WC RR, but seems on Strava like his training has been okay since Glasgow.

Leknessund also a clear candidate for the win. If he can climb like he did in the Giro on Cappuccini on the finishing climb on stage 3 he might defend his title from last year.

Dylan Teuns is probably the biggest name and should definitively count as one of the favorites and Clement Champoussin should also be considered. I haven't seen Lidl-Treks team, they might bring some interesting riders as well.

I suppose the climbs in stage 3-4 are too hard for Baroncini. He finally seemed to hit a decent shape in June and July though.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

And Netserk thought Denmark's start list was bad... Jesus christ.

Procyclingstats startlist quality* gives

ZLM Tour 122
Arctic Race of Norway 122
Tour de Limousin 168
Tour of Denmark 228
Vuelta a Burgos 277

* The quality score of a startlist is computed as follows. For each rider on the startlist the position on the PCS ranking on the date of the start of the race is computed. For a top-10 position 50 points are awarded, top-25 position 35 points and on according to this scheme (top10: 50, top25: 35, top50: 20, top100: 10, top200: 5, top500: 2, top1000: 1).

 

[Ludwigzgz]

Leknessund DNS

https://twitter.com/x/status/1692129173601488901

View: https://twitter.com/TDSM_Firmenich/status/1692129173601488901

 

[KZD]

A shame that Leknessund is out, I will go with Johanessen for GC, this could be a great week for Uno-X with Wærenskjold fighting for GC in Denmark too.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1691781848303600043

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Even Carlton Kirby would be better than today's main commentator.

 

[RedheadDane]

Old guy (Impey) on the attack.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Even Carlton Kirby would be better than today's main commentator.

I actually had Kirby on the feed I was watching, had a fair bit to say about salmon fishing

So not a great start of the day for DSM with Leknessund out ill, but Dainese took the stage.

 

[search]

today's finish looks easy enough for another bunch sprint on the official profile...

but quite a bit harder on Veloviewer:

So not really sure what do expect there.

 

[Samamba]

Echelons!

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Today's finish:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1692509684459069877

 

[laarsland]

I can't believe they never had the Hammer Series in Hammerfest.

 

[Anderis]

Yesterday's top3 must be one of the most random top3 of any stage I have seen in a long time. A sprinter, a climber and a guy I've never heard about before.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Regarding my thumb reactions to the (excellent) OP:
I'm not angry, neither bullying, but fingers apparently dizzy on my phone by the time
(fixed now)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Insane amounts of energy being expended for these intermediate sprints.

 

[search]

Yesterday's top3 must be one of the most random top3 of any stage I have seen in a long time. A sprinter, a climber and a guy I've never heard about before.

...who now even is the virtual leader of the race, after taking 5s at the bonus sprints.

If he doesn't pay for it at the finish, it may be a name to keep in mind . Alfred Bruce Noah Hobbs.

 

[RedheadDane]

...who now even is the virtual leader of the race, after taking 5s at the bonus sprints.

If he doesn't pay for it at the finish, it may be a name to keep in mind . Alfred Bruce Noah Hobbs.

Alfred and Bruce? That's some legendary kings stuff right there.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Alfred and Bruce? That's some legendary kings stuff right there.

He's definitely giving me bat signals.