2015 Arctic Race of Norway

The 2015 Arctic Race of Norway was a four-stage cycling stage race that took place in Norway between 13 and 16 August. It was the third edition of the Arctic Race of Norway and is rated as a 2.HC event as part of the UCI Europe Tour.[1] The race is the northernmost race in the 2015 men's cycling calendar.[2] The champion of the 2014 edition was Steven Kruijswijk, though he was not present to defend his title.[1]

2015 Arctic Race of Norway
2015 UCI Europe Tour
Race details
Dates13–16 August
Stages4
Distance724 km (449.9 mi)
Winning time16h 42' 02"
Results
Winner  Rein Taaramäe (EST) (Astana)
  Second  Silvan Dillier (SUI) (BMC Racing Team)
  Third  Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) (Team Katusha)

Points  Alexander Kristoff (NOR) (Team Katusha)
Mountains  August Jensen (NOR) (Team Coop-Øster Hus)
Youth  Silvan Dillier (SUI) (BMC Racing Team)
  Team BMC Racing Team
← 2014
2016 →

The race was won by Rein Taaramäe (Astana) on the final stage, ahead of Silvan Dillier (BMC Racing Team) and Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha), after the three riders broke away from the pack on the finishing circuit. Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) won the first stage and the points classification, while the mountains classification was won by August Jensen (Team Coop-Øster Hus). BMC won the teams classification.

Race schedule

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List of stages[3]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 13 August Harstad to Harstad 213.5 km (133 mi)   Flat stage   Alexander Kristoff (NOR)
2 14 August Evenskjer to Setermoen 162.5 km (101 mi)   Hilly stage   Sam Bennett (IRL)
3 15 August Finnsnes (Senja) to Fjellandsby (Målselv) 183 km (114 mi)   Hilly stage   Ben Hermans (BEL)
4 16 August Narvik to Narvik 165 km (103 mi)   Hilly stage   Silvan Dillier (SUI)

Teams

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22 teams were invited to take part in the race. Seven of these were UCI WorldTeams; 9 were UCI Professional Continental teams; five were UCI Continental teams.[1] Each team entered six riders, so the peloton at the start of the race was made up of 126 riders.[4]

UCI WorldTeams

UCI Professional Continental teams

UCI Continental teams

Pre-race favourites

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The principal stage in the general classification was expected to be the third stage, the summit finish in Målselv Municipality. This stage was expected to favour the climbers, such as Rein Taaramäe (Astana), Louis Meintjes (MTN–Qhubeka) and Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha), who were therefore the favourites for the overall victory. The other stages were expected to be won by sprinters. Two of the prominent sprinters in the race were the Norwegians Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN–Qhubeka). Other sprinters present included Sam Bennett (Bora–Argon 18), Bryan Coquard (Team Europcar) and Niccolò Bonifazio and Davide Cimolai (both Lampre–Merida).[2]

Stages

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Stage 1

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13 August 2015 – Harstad to Harstad, 210 km (130 mi)

Stage 1 result
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Alexander Kristoff (NOR) Team Katusha 4h 58' 36"
2   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) MTN–Qhubeka + 0"
3   Sam Bennett (IRL) Bora–Argon 18 + 0"
4   Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 0"
5   Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) Cofidis + 0"
6   Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN) Cult Energy Pro Cycling + 0"
7   Amaury Capiot (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 0"
8   Martin Elmiger (SUI) IAM Cycling + 0"
9   Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 0"
10   Sondre Holst Enger (NOR) IAM Cycling + 0"
Source: ProCyclingStats
General classification after stage 1
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Alexander Kristoff (NOR)    Team Katusha 4h 58' 26"
2   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) MTN–Qhubeka + 4"
3   Sam Bennett (IRL)   Bora–Argon 18 + 6"
4   Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 10"
5   Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) Cofidis + 10"
6   Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN) Cult Energy Pro Cycling + 10"
7   Amaury Capiot (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 10"
8   Martin Elmiger (SUI) IAM Cycling + 10"
9   Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 10"
10   Sondre Holst Enger (NOR) IAM Cycling + 10"
Source: ProCyclingStats

Stage 2

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14 August 2015 – Evenskjer to Setermoen, 155 km (96 mi)

Stage 2 result
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Sam Bennett (IRL)   Bora–Argon 18 3h 41' 05"
2   Federico Zurlo (ITA) UnitedHealthcare + 0"
3   Alexander Kristoff (NOR)    Team Katusha + 0"
4   Michael Kolář (SVK) Tinkoff–Saxo + 0"
5   Daniel McLay (GBR) Bretagne–Séché Environnement + 0"
6   Floris Gerts (NED) BMC Racing Team + 0"
7   Arman Kamyshev (KAZ) Astana + 0"
8   Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) Cofidis + 0"
9   Sondre Holst Enger (NOR) IAM Cycling + 0"
10   Oscar Landa (NOR) Team Coop-Øster Hus + 0"
Source: ProCyclingStats
General classification after stage 2
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Alexander Kristoff (NOR)    Team Katusha 8h 39' 30"
2   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) MTN–Qhubeka + 2"
3   Sam Bennett (IRL)   Bora–Argon 18 + 7"
4   Amaury Capiot (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 9"
5   Michael Van Staeyen (BEL) Cofidis + 11"
6   Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA) Lampre–Merida + 11"
7   Sondre Holst Enger (NOR) IAM Cycling + 11"
8   Floris Gerts (NED) BMC Racing Team + 11"
9   Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 11"
10   Jarl Salomein (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise + 11"
Source: ProCyclingStats

Stage 3

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15 August 2015 – Finnsnes on Senja to Fjellandsby in Målselv, 175 km (109 mi)

Stage 3 result
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Ben Hermans (BEL) BMC Racing Team 4h 27' 10"
2   Rein Taaramäe (EST) Astana + 3"
3   Mathias Frank (SUI) IAM Cycling + 10"
4   Silvan Dillier (SUI) BMC Racing Team + 14"
5   Dylan Teuns (BEL) BMC Racing Team + 17"
6   Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) Team Katusha + 20"
7   Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN–Qhubeka + 23"
8   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) MTN–Qhubeka + 23"
9   Marcel Wyss (SUI) IAM Cycling + 23"
10   Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) Team Joker + 28"
Source: ProCyclingStats
General classification after stage 3
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Ben Hermans (BEL)   BMC Racing Team 13h 06' 41"
2   Rein Taaramäe (EST) Astana + 7"
3   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) MTN–Qhubeka + 24"
4   Silvan Dillier (SUI)   BMC Racing Team + 24"
5   Mathias Frank (SUI) IAM Cycling + 25"
6   Dylan Teuns (BEL) BMC Racing Team + 27"
7   Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) Team Joker + 38"
8   Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN) Cult Energy Pro Cycling + 40"
9   Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) Team Katusha + 41"
10   Marcel Wyss (SUI) IAM Cycling + 42"
Source: ProCyclingStats

Stage 4

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16 August 2015 – Narvik to Narvik, 160 km (99 mi)

Stage 4 result
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Silvan Dillier (SUI) BMC Racing Team 3h 35' 18"
2   Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) Team Katusha + 0"
3   Rein Taaramäe (EST) Astana + 2"
4   Sven Erik Bystrøm (NOR) Team Katusha + 40"
5   Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN) Cult Energy Pro Cycling + 42"
6   Antwan Tolhoek (NED) Tinkoff–Saxo + 42"
7   Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) Team Joker + 42"
8   Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 42"
9   Mathias Frank (SUI) IAM Cycling + 42"
10   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) MTN–Qhubeka + 42"
Source: ProCyclingStats, CyclingNews
Final general classification
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Rein Taaramäe (EST)   Astana 16h 42' 02"
2   Silvan Dillier (SUI)   BMC Racing Team + 8"
3   Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) Team Katusha + 31"
4   Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) MTN–Qhubeka + 1' 02"
5   Mathias Frank (SUI) IAM Cycling + 1' 04"
6   Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) Team Joker + 1' 17"
7   Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN) Cult Energy Pro Cycling + 1' 19"
8   Anthony Turgis (FRA) Cofidis + 1' 31"
9   Ben Hermans (BEL) BMC Racing Team + 1' 33"
10   Marcel Wyss (SUI) IAM Cycling + 1' 33"
Source: ProCyclingStats

Classifications

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The race included four main classifications: the general classification, the points classification, the mountains classification and the youth classification. There was also an award for the most aggressive rider on each stage and a team classification.[5]

Stage Winner General classification
 
Points classification
 
Mountains classification
 
Youth classification
 
Team classification Combativity award
 
1 Alexander Kristoff Alexander Kristoff Alexander Kristoff Vegard Stake Laengen Sam Bennett Cult Energy Pro Cycling Marius Hafsas
2 Sam Bennett August Jensen Jean-Marc Bideau
3 Ben Hermans Ben Hermans Haavard Blikra Silvan Dillier BMC Racing Team Herman Dahl
4 Silvan Dillier Rein Taaramäe August Jensen Maxime Cam
Final Rein Taaramäe Alexander Kristoff August Jensen Silvan Dillier BMC Racing Team not awarded

References

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Sources

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  • Arctic Race of Norway: Roadbook (PDF). ASO. 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c "Arctic Race of Norway 2015 - General classification". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Strongest field yet for Arctic Race of Norway". Cyclingnews.com. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  3. ^ ASO 2015, pp. 13–36.
  4. ^ "Arctic Race of Norway 2015 - General Classification". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Sporting stages / Rules". letour.fr. ASO. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
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