Discover the Stage 1 highlights
More information:
https://www.arctic-race.com
https://www.facebook.com/watch/ArcticRaceofNorway/
https://twitter.com/ArcticRaceofN
https://www.instagram.com/arcticraceofn
Official Hashtag: #ArcticRace
#ARN #ARN2024
© A.R.N
More information:
https://www.arctic-race.com
https://www.facebook.com/watch/ArcticRaceofNorway/
https://twitter.com/ArcticRaceofN
https://www.instagram.com/arcticraceofn
Official Hashtag: #ArcticRace
#ARN #ARN2024
© A.R.N
Category
🥇
SportTranscription
00:00It's great still discovering new races and the Arctic Race of Norway is definitely one
00:08of those.
00:09I'm going to do one more season, so next year will most likely be my last season of
00:16racing.
00:17Yeah, I'm enjoying being part of the team and having that role of sharing my experience
00:24with them.
00:26I'm excited to be here, back in the North of Norway, and having some good results previous
00:30years.
00:31Kristoff takes the win in Auta, in front of his home crowd.
00:36I hope I can win a stage or two again, and we have also a really strong squad for the
00:40whole race in general, so at least I think we're going to be able to fight for the stages
00:46every day.
00:47Four seconds between Calzoni and the chasing pack.
00:51Heartbreak for Calzoni, caught in the last 250 metres.
00:55When I lost just for one second, I think immediately, OK, I have to try to win this
01:02race next year.
01:04I prepared really well for this race, and we will see what will happen.
01:10Strong field, good teams, so I think it's going to be an exciting race.
01:15A lot of, as we see every year in Arctic Race of Norway, a lot of moves, attacks, fast.
01:22It's not that controlled, because there's less teams and also less riders, so I'm excited.
01:31Time then to go racing.
01:33A special day laying ahead, especially for the tough sprinters, and you had to be.
01:38Boda, a farewell to them, but staying of course above the Arctic Circle, exactly where we
01:44want to play.
01:53Destination Ronja, 155 and more kilometres along the way, and five brave souls decided
02:01that they were going to be in the breakaway.
02:02Well, with the King of the Mountains peacock jersey up for grabs, this had to be the place
02:08to be, but the margins were very modest, kept well within range, despite the fact that they
02:13were off up the road after just five kilometres, they never really got more than two minutes
02:18away from the gang who was on their tail.
02:22Spectacular scenery along the way, it's a characteristic of this race, illuminated by
02:27good weather this year.
02:30It's a beautiful race, it's also extremely tough.
02:33Well, our breakaway shared the spoils from the first intermediate sprint, and those climbs
02:39of course, it's not just about mountain goats, it's about how you deliver it.
02:43And there was a battle raging, even amongst our breakaway, they couldn't really decide
02:48on cohesion, and the chase just kept them on a short leash.
02:58There was time out there, time had to be garnered, and indeed points as well, they had to be
03:04fought for.
03:07It was busy.
03:09Retegi, one of those who was extremely busy, along with Incon, but none more determined
03:17I think out there than Jelle Johanink.
03:21Even when the break started to lose its heart, he kept his, it was a phenomenal performance.
03:30Then Faunia, took over from his team mate, Kvam, who'd been up front, and all it did
03:34was act like a red flag to a bull, and the big bulls, they were coming through to take
03:40their own bonus seconds.
03:42Final intermediate sprint had some big names, Magnus Kort taking it ahead of Schmidt, and
03:52indeed a very impressive remark.
03:56Well the foldovers were happening, there were still more points to be taken, and up again
04:00came Johanink, guaranteeing that amazing jersey.
04:04One of the most beautiful in cycling, and we were heading for the drama of a finale.
04:09This was Johanink, who said, you know what, peacock jerseys look great on me, and I'm
04:13going to have this one.
04:16Nobody could stop him in his determination to put on a jersey at the end of the day,
04:20such a brave man.
04:24And so an amazing downhill rollercoaster, a run to a grand finale.
04:31And then they've got to head for home, in fact they've just dealt with it, the Hornings
04:35at the side of the road, and the metre start to count down here, don't they?
04:39There's a bit of shoulderage going on as well, Max Kanter in the frame, and we've got a flyer
04:43here coming up down the side wing, if you like, coming in, a rocket ship, that's Emilien
04:51Janier, I believe, from Total Energies, going to lead out with him, I think it's Pierre
04:55Latour who's going to try and guide him, oh, shoulderage getting involved here as well,
04:59and have they flown the coop, is this going to be a runaway for a solo?
05:04They can see them now, suddenly they open up, now then, this is the big dig, who's working
05:10for who?
05:11And it's Kort working for Christophe, Kort working for Christophe, Xenia's on his case
05:14as well, Christophe releases, Xenia's coming up on the outside, he's on the Hornings for
05:19the take, Christophe shuts him down, he's going to throw it, oh, that was brilliant,
05:24Alexander Christophe sets the planet alight, well, it just goes to prove you can teach
05:31an old dog new tricks, again and again and again.
05:36It was a bit hard in the climb, but I knew from training I should survive it because
05:42I saw the power was less than what I did at home, so I knew I could do it, but I felt
05:47the team brought me in a really good spot, coming into the last few hundred meters and
05:51I could wait and wait and start, I think, just at the right time, there was some guys
05:56coming a little bit on the side, but I felt it was under control.
06:04All hail the Viking, what a guy, Christophe at 37 years of age, showing the young guns
06:09the way home, brilliant.
06:13And in so doing, he goes into the Midnight Sun leader's jersey, heading the race by a
06:18margin of just four seconds for now, well, the wind came, indeed, the yellow jersey and
06:26also the points jersey, naturally enough for the man who took the opening day.
06:33But the peacock of the day, this man, how brave was he, Johanink dominating with an
06:42eight point lead on 12 for now.
06:46And where there are old dogs, there are young guns, likewise, the coveted white jersey,
06:52Fuerte in charge for now.
06:57What a day, what a Viking, what a race.