Cycling: Mathieu Van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) won the start of the Arctic Race of Norway. On the first stage, the Dutch champion left all his opponents behind. After a fall on the 700 meter long ramp, some pros have to put up with sensitive time gaps.
Strong wind, strong breakaways
It only started at 13:30 p.m. today 6th Arctic Race of Norway. Before that, the pros were taken from their team hotels in Kirkenes to the starting point in Vadsø. Then we went back the same way – but by bike. The 184-kilometer route led the peloton along the water through impressive nature. However, the pros didn't have a lot of time and peace to enjoy the beautiful landscape and spot a reindeer or two. The strong wind made it possible right into the first hour of the race wind edges and left some gaps in the field of drivers. A group of around 20 people pulled away, including the co-favourites Damian Caruso (BMC) and Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Samsic). In the peloton, it was mainly left to the Israel Cycling Academy the tracking work, because with August Jensen an ambitious Norwegian wanted to win - and the competition knew that.
For Hoelgaard & Tulik the finish line was 350 m too late
Due to the increasingly poorly harmonizing top group, there were attacks and a split in a mountain classification. Among other things Damian Caruso thrown back into the peloton while Warren Barguil could remain part of the top. The closer the peloton got to Kirkenes, the more teams took part in the tracking work. Gradually Corendon-Circus rose with the German Marcel Meisen and Dimension Data with the Austrian Bernhard Eisel a. The group was caught before the final circuit could be reached in the destination. As expected, this led to new attacks, which caused the duo, consisting of the French Angelo Tulik (Direct Energie) and the Norwegian Markus Hoelgaard (Joker Icopal) could depose. The BMC team promptly got in on the pace work. About 350 meters from the finish line it happened to these two too.
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Mathieu Van der Poel was only not sovereign when cheering
The Norwegian sat immediately after being caught Markus Hoelgaard another attack. Almost at the same time, there was a crash at around position #15 in the field. This stopped the entire rest of the peloton in the final ramp, which was on average eight percent steep, and thus caused serious time deficits. At the very front, Hoelgaard sprinted to fourth place, which of course the local fans knew how to celebrate. However, the crosser secured the victory with absolute confidence Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon Circus). With a powerful start, the Dutchman shook off all his opponents who were still behind. Only when he was cheering did he stumble when he almost drove into the gang. But even this small hurdle he finally knew how to master. Behind them the Russian sprinted Sergei Chernetsky (Astana) in front of the Belgian Benjamin Declercq (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) in second place.
💪 The Dutch @mathieuvdpoel well managed this uphill finish to claim the stage win today in Kirkenes!#ArcticRace pic.twitter.com/FkylcaRE8t
— ArcticRaceofNorway (@ArcticRaceofN) August 16, 2018
Sensitive time intervals for co-favourites
The Swiss also presented himself very well Danilo Wyss (BMC) at #13. teammate Damian Caruso lost a whopping 30 seconds. It was even worse for local hero August Jensen (Israel Cycling Academy). After his team worked for him all day, he broke down just before the finish. He lost more than a minute to the winner of the day Mathieu van der Poel one, who can start tomorrow in the leader's jersey. The mountain jersey will be worn by the Norwegian tomorrow Different Skaarseth (Cofidis) slip over. The 23-year-old fought a tough duel from the breakaway group Warren Barguil – and was able to win it by a point. Already tomorrow, however, further mountain classifications are on the program. The wavy profile also promises a fight of the strong punchers on the second stage.
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