With the overall classification in the Tour des Fjords being out of reach for South African Daryl Impey, ORICA-GreenEDGE started the fifth and final stage looking for a stage win.

“We were looking for a stage win today,” says sports director Matt Wilson. “We decided that that overall classification was out of reach and we really wanted to get a stage, so we put all our energies into that.”

Canadian Christian Meier was in one of the several attacks of the day, but no real attempt managed to uphold until 70 kilometres into the race, when a group of 5 riders managed to create a sufficient enough gap to stay away until well into the stage’s final ten kilometres.

OGE took control of the chase and set the pace high to catch the escapees.  With just 10 kilometres to go, the breakaway group of the day was caught. Impey joined Boasson Hagen and Haller who took off on the only, but steep climb of the day.

“Everyone was sort of covering for everyone. Nothing really happened, so it had to come down to the final circuit. There were crosswinds at some point during the stage and echelons were formed. We actually tried to split up the bunch up there,” Wilson explains. “But unfortunately, the race was never in the right direction long enough for that to work either.

“The guys rode really well today. We had a big plan of what we were going to do on the circuit and the guys executed that plan perfectly. Daryl got away there and he had the best chance to win the stage, but Boasson Hagen was just too strong.

“It’s a little bit frustrating that we couldn’t get a stage win out of our time in Norway, but the guys rode really well and gave it a good shot. We came into the race with riders coming back from illnesses and injuries, we really only had half a fit team. We’re a bit disappointed, we went there for at least a stage win, but it’s through no fault of ours. The guys gave it their everything, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.”