Under the cover of Giro d’Italia, Tinkoff-Saxo heads to Tour of Norway with a team looking to perform both in the general classification and in the sprints. With a mix of WorldTour, Pro- and Continental squads, the race will be affected by teams looking to put their mark on the versatile stage race. 

While team sports director Nicki Sørensen underlines that several riders will get opportunities to deliver results, the main focus is on strong Russian Nikolay Trusov and young Dane Jesper Hansen.

“Our ambition is to support Nikolay Trusov in the sprints, while Jesper Hansen will be our main rider for the general classification. Jesper is in very good shape but some of our other riders, who can do well in hilly and mountainous terrain, will also get a chance if the opportunity arises”, says Nicki Sørensen and adds:

“It’s obvious that the focus right now is on Giro d’Italia and our nine guys fighting for the victory there, but our squad for Tour of Norway starts with great motivation looking to show the team colors and secure good results”.

Tinkoff-Saxo lines up Nikolay Trusov, Jesper Hansen, Chris Anker Sørensen, Evgeny Petrov, Pavel Brutt and Juraj Sagan.

With 908km spread across five stages, the riders of this year’s edition of Tour of Norway can expect back-to-back medium length stages in varying terrain. Although stage 3 with its first category climb in the race finale seems to be the most decisive for the GC, Nicki Sørensen notes that any team looking to perform well must stay attentive throughout the race.

“The race has quite versatile terrain, where stage 1, for instance, presents the riders with a finale on a technical circuit. Already here, it’s important to be well positioned both in terms of the GC and the stage win as well. Then on stage 3, the GC will really come into play but it won’t necessarily be decided before the last stage”, explains Nicki Sørensen.

Aiming for the GC is 24-year old Jesper Hansen, who has deliver consistent performances in the last two editions of Tour of Norway finishing 6th and 7th. Sørensen adds that he will get the chance to step up.

“Jesper has delivered some good GC results in the past and this time we’re looking for a performance among the best. But also Chris Anker Sørensen will get the chance. He just came back from an altitude training camp and should be in shape for this kind of terrain. Brutt has had a race break, but he has been in great shape throughout the season so far, he can perform as well. On the flatter stages, Juraj Sagan, Evgeny Petrov and also Pavel Brutt will be key figures in assisting Trusov in the sprints”, finishes Nicki Sørensen.

Tour of Norway begins Wednesday, May 20 and finishes Sunday, May 24.