Starting next Saturday in BodØ and finishing in Harstad is the first edition of the Arctic Race of Norway, held over four days.
This is the first edition of the Arctic Race of Norway which features four road stages all ideally suited to the sprinters, unless the wind decides to cause havoc in which case it could be anyone’s race.
Team Argos-Shimano head into this new race with a punchy team focused on the sprints. Coach Jorn Knops (NED) said: “This is the first time that the race will be held so that means that we will have to see how it will pan out.
“The stages are ideal for sprinters in Norway. We have a strong line-up for this situation with sprinters like Nikias Arndt (GER), Jonas Ahlstrand (SWE) and Ramon Sinkeldam (NED). Alongside these guys, we also have riders who can put in long, sustained efforts in the breaks or on the front. We will decide the final tactics day-by-day.”
Starting at the beginning of next week is the seventh edition of the Eneco Tour (WorldTour) in the Benelux.
This race will see the return of many of the Team Argos-Shimano riders who raced the Tour de France, including Marcel Kittel (GER) and John Degenkolb (GER).
Kittel (GER) won the opening stage of the race last year, as well as the fourth stage, and so will be looking for more wins after what has been a hugely successful year for the team’s young German sprinter.
“We have a very strong team, with most of the guys that rode the Tour de France,” said coach Rudi Kemna (NED).
“We have four time Tour stage winner Kittel (NED) for the flat sprints and Degenkolb (GER) for the more difficult finishes. Youngster and Tour revelation Tom Dumoulin (NED) will be aiming to finish well overall. This stage race suits him very well with the Time Trial and the hillier stages. I am looking forward to trying to repeat the success that was the Tour de France here.”
Arctic Race of Norway (08-11.08.2013)
Jonas Ahlstrand (SWE)
Nikias Arndt (GER)
Thierry Hupont (FRA)
Tobias Ludvigsson (SWE)
Ramon Sinkeldam (NED)
Tom Stamsnijder (NED)
