The opening stage of the Arctic Race of Norway saw the peloton take on a 155 kilometre route from Bodø to Rognan. It was a relatively controlled start with a break going clear and the peloton taking up the chase, with the Team dsm-firmenich PostNL squad sat well together at the front. Coming into the main climbing section in the latter third of the day the team were attentive when the break was brought back, with Kevin Vermaerke getting up to take third place and with it one bonus second at the intermediate sprint. Despite a few more attacks, things were always destined to come down to a bunch sprint. The team did well to bring Tobias Lund Andresen forward at around three kilometres to go, but from that point the proverbial washing machine display was in full effect and Lund Andresen unfortunately got swamped by some other teams in the last kilometre; meaning he was unable to sprint for a result.”
Speaking after the finish Lund Andresen said: “We did well sitting together at the front the whole race, which was good. When the race opened up again once the break was caught in the final, there was a fight for the bonus seconds we were attentive and kept control. In the very deep final, we just couldn’t get together and I unfortunately never got in a position from where I could properly go for it in the sprint to the line.”
