Cycling: The Arctic Race of Norway 2018 is over. At the sixth edition of the world's northernmost cycling race, the spectators got to see impressive pictures. In addition to the spectators and fans, the pros themselves also enjoy the four-day tour of northern Norway. Velomotion spoke to the German-speaking riders before the start of the last stage.
Bernhard Eisel (Austria, Dimension Data): "It was great fun"
“I had always heard about this race before and wanted to experience it myself. You'll never come this far north again. I was here last year and it was a wonderful tour, not only because I won the mountain jersey. It was great fun. The area is amazing. And the Norwegians are extremely enthusiastic about cycling. They are all here. I think about 100.000 people live in Finnmark - we've all seen them on the roadside. The hotels are nice, the food is great. Everyone tries very hard. It's really excellent. Unfortunately, such tours always get too little public attention. But where else do you get a massage and a shower on the cruise ship?”
Fabian Lienhard (Switzerland, Holowesko-Citadel): "The best race I've ever driven"
"It's super nice here. I think this is the most beautiful race I've ever driven. Actually very well organized. One day was a very long transfer but that's fine for a single day. But considering that there are hardly any villages or towns here, the organization is really good. Unfortunately, you sometimes see the pictures on TV in the evening and then think: oh, I didn't see that at all."
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Danilo Wyss (Switzerland, BMC): "An open and offensive race with many attacks"
“It's great to be able to drive in a different part of Europe. There is so much nature here and therefore something different than what we usually experience. It's a very open and offensive race with a lot of attacks. That makes it different than an ordinary WorldTour race.”
Michael Schär (Switzerland, BMC): "A wonderful experience"
“It's definitely a bit different here than at the other races. A lot of nature. We often start in one village and end in another village, 190 kilometers in between. But it is a beautiful experience.”
Marcel Meisen (Germany, Corendon-Circus): "A race I've always wanted to go to"
“I especially like the weather, because I have a bit of a problem with the heat. So this is a race I've always wanted to do. The fact that it's raining today isn't really that bad either. The second stage was very windy and tough, but other than that it's definitely different from France, Belgium or anywhere else. If you were a little further south in Norway, it might be even nicer.”
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