Tinkoff-Saxo’s Michael Valgren once again made his way into the top ten in Norway after 205 kilometers of racing at the second stage of Tour des Fjords. The Danish champion finished 7th in the sprint, which was once again won by Alexander Kristoff.
 
Talking about the outcome, Tinkoff-Saxo sports director Nicki Sørensen tells that team sprinter Nikolay Trusov didn’t get the sprint he had hoped for, while Michael Valgren took up the reins and represented the team in the final burst for the line.

“Once again we rode on twisting roads up and down along the fjords. Unlike yesterday, Trusov made it to the finish with the main bunch but he didn’t quite have the legs to do the sprint he wanted to do. Before the stage I told Valgren that he had a free role and if he had the possibility, he should try to position himself for the sprint. He’s not a sprinter like Kristoff, but he has power and finished 7th today”, says Nicki Sørensen.

Stage 2 from Jondal presented the riders with 205km along the inlets to Haugesund. Nicki Sørensen adds that the team performed according to the plan in the effort to position Trusov in the sprint.
 
“The guys did what we had planned and rode well together. Valgren is well positioned in the GC before the next three stages and we will support him in trying to secure a good overall position”, adds Nicki Sørensen.
 
Tomorrow’s stage 3 goes from Leirvik to Sauda and will present the riders with a first time experience. After the start in Leirvik, the peloton will ride through the Bømlo Fjord tunnel at 264m below sea level, which should be the “deepest” point for any UCI race in history.
 
“Tomorrow is an interesting day, as the peloton of Tour de Fjords, according to the race organizers, will set a new record for the lowest altitude a UCI bike race has ever been at. The race will ride through a long tunnel across a fjord at 264m below sea level. It will be quite fun”, finishes Nicki Sørensen.