It has been a remarkable season for Norwegian road cyclists on the world stage.
Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset. Photo Credit: letourfemmes Instagram
Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset from Berkåk made history, winning a stage of Tour de France Femmes in August. With 88 kilometers (54 miles) left to go in stage three, the current national champion of Norway launched a solo attack in searing heat and windy conditions, holding off all of the top riders.
For the final 11 kilometers of the race, Haugset of team Uno-X Mobility was closely trailed by two-time world road race champion Lotte Kopecky, who could not overcome the 10 second gap separating them.
Prior to that day’s stage, Haugset had thought she could perhaps make it onto the podium in the hilly stage. With this victory, Haugset became the first Norwegian to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France Femmes. Watch her post-race interview.
At the Arctic Race of Norway, Norwegian men also had a leg up.
The four-day stage race is available for viewing on YouTube and is not only interesting due to the high percentage of Norwegian cyclists in the mix. Watch the race for the stunning backdrop of the Lofoten archipelago and neighboring coastal islands.
The hilly stages of roughly 160 km / 100 miles each day were best tackled by cyclists adept at climbing mountain roads. It also didn’t hurt to be acquainted with the landscape and local weather.
The Stage 2 win in Andenes was clinched by Uno-X Mobility team rider Erlend Blikra of Stavanger, who pulled off a rainy weather win despite a chaotic bunch sprint to the finish.
At 29, Blikra has been racing professionally for ten years and this is his third professional race win. Team Uno-X, managed by former world champion cyclist Thor Hushovd, positioned their rider for the final sprint, calling it a textbook finish, with teammate Henrik Pedersen leading out his teammate over the final 3 km and handing off for Blikra to crush the closing sprint.
Cedrik Bakke Christophersen.
Photo Credit: _cedrik_ Instagram
The fourth and final stage of the Arctic Race of Norway also saw a Norwegian atop the podium. Rookie Cedrik Bakke Christophersen, 24,of team Unibet Rose Rockets was buoyed by home crowds in the race’s final stage from Sortland to Narvik.
Standing on the pedals to tackle the sizable uphill finish, the 24-year-old rounded out the last 600 meters alone in his brightly-striped jersey, the peloton finishing 3 seconds behind. This was his first ever win as a professional cyclist, and landed Christophersen in 8th place for the overall race finish.