Today’s 166 kilometer third stage of Tour des Fjords from Stord to Sauda was concluded in a third consecutive stage win for Alexander Kristoff after a late attack from CULT Energy Pro Cycling’s Rasmus Guldhammer who was caught entering the final kilometer.

From a breakaway of four riders, Tinkoff-Saxo’s Danish national champion Michael Valgren broke clear with a gap of almost 3 minutes and 30 kilometers to go. On the final climb, attacks were flying from the bunch with such a pace that Valgren was swept up with 18 kilometers remaining.

In a furious counter-attack, CULT Energy Pro Cycling’s Rasmus Guldhammer leaped off with two breakaway companions while Orica-GreenEdge were chasing with Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) on their wheel. The breakaway trio worked brilliantly together up front on the downhill but keeping the chasing field away became very difficult in the final three flat kilometers before the finish line. Going under the red kite, the escapees were caught and in the wet bunch sprint, Kristoff was completely superb.

CULT Energy Pro Cycling’s young Mads Pedersen finished 6th in the sprint.

“Today the guys really tried their best to prevail. First Rasmus launched a very promising attack but unfortunately and in spite of a strong combined effort, they were swept up entering the final kilometer. Mads was pretty much alone in the chase group but he managed to stay among the best across the finish line. Both are in very good shape and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s stage where we hopefully will be able to make another impact on the events,” said a satisfied sports director Michael Skelde.