Cycling: Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling) is the big winner of the tough second stage of the Arctic Race of Norway. The American left Dennis Van Winden (Israel Cycling Academy) and Markus Hoelgaard (Joker Icopal) behind on the almost 200-kilometer section. Sergei Chernetski (Astana) took over the overall lead from Mathieu Van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) because he was unable to follow. The Swiss Danilo Wyss (BMC) is still at the front.
The Arctic Race of Norway offers difficult conditions
The peloton of the Arctic Race of Norway on the second stage. The distance from Tana to Kjøllefjord was 195,0 kilometers. Because it rained before the starting gun, the streets were wet. The strong wind, the many curves, the bad road conditions and the constant ups and downs should make the section a real ordeal. Again and again it started to drizzle. Still, the pros didn't hold back. Constant attacks ensured a fast first hour of racing. First 15 drivers were able to break away, then two. Finally, after well over an hour, the leading group of the day consisted of six riders. In addition to the two Norwegians Henrik Evensen (Joker Icopal) and Sindre Skjostad Lunke (Fortuneo-Samsic) have the two French Loic Chetout (Cofidis) and Yannick Martinez (Delko Marseille Provence KTM), as well as the Dutchman Dennis Van Winden (Israel Cycling Academy) and the Canadian Ryan Anderson (Rally Cycling) separated from the peloton.
Sindre Skjøstad Lunke slips into a mountain jersey
As the stage progressed, Martinez and Chetout could no longer follow the pace of their companions. At the same time, the pace was increased in the peloton. Team BMC used a wind relay to get rid of numerous competitors. With 45 kilometers to go, they all merged, with a further increase in speed causing the original field to fall apart. Also the overall leader Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) fell out at the back. Just like the Norwegian Sindre Skjostad Lunke (Fortuneo-Samsic), who was able to secure the mountain jersey due to his presence in the breakaway group. At least a positive experience for the French team. Today Fortuneo-Samsic lost because of a fall from Warren Barguil all hopes of a good placement in the overall standings.
🏁 100KM 🏁
The pace is very high in the peloton. 🤭#ArcticRace pic.twitter.com/qn4QevgAkN— ArcticRaceofNorway (@ArcticRaceofN) August 17, 2018
Astana and BMC do not use their superiority
After the Belgian team Wanty Groupe-Gobert missed the postal departure initiated by BMC, one worked for captain William Martin. An attack on his part closed the gap, but shortly afterwards there was a fall, which also threw the Frenchman back and should ultimately put him more than a minute behind Alberto Bettiol (BMC) along with the Astana duo Jakob Fuglsang and Sergei Chernetsky has deposed. But Astana could not take advantage of the numerical superiority. Bettiol did not submit to the cat-and-mouse game because there were several BMC riders in the chasing group. In the end, however, neither BMC nor Astana celebrated.
Danilo Wyss is fourth
From the eleven-strong group it turned out Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling) as the fastest Dennis Van Winden (Israel Cycling Academy) and Markus Hoelgaard (Joker Icopal). However, Sergei Chernetski is allowed to wear the overall leader's jersey – at least a consolation prize for Astana. We have to describe the performance of the Swiss as very strong Danilo Wyss (BMC). As the best in his team, he finished fourth. He is now fourth in the overall standings.
RT ArcticRaceofN: 🔻 After an offensive ride, Colin Joyce from Rally_Cycling won today's stage in Kjøllefjord! 💪#ArcticRace pic.twitter.com/HW3AMmCRAY
— CycleBot (@TheCycleBot) August 17, 2018