In yesterday's second stage, Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) was the big favourite to continue his domination of his home race, the Tour of Norway, but the Norwegian paid the price for a lack of team support. With only 4 riders at this side and no help from the others teams, Kristoff was unable to bring back the late two-rider break and so his sprint win was only good enough for third.

Team Katusha’s rider Alexander Kristoff took the 3rd podium place at the second stage of the Tour of Norway. Kristoff won the bunch sprint and finished just behind the two riders from a late breakaway, who decided  the stage victory.

"I am a little bit disappointed, because I missed the chance to fight for the stage win," he said. "But today we did everything possible to make that happen; the team did its best. But you know, when you have only 5 riders on the roster, is really hard to completely control the race. Anyway, today we took a podium place and we held on to the green jersey. We still have 3 stages and we will fight there.

“I didn’t come to the Tour of Norway with ambitions for the overall. I came here for stage wins and I’m disappointed that I couldn’t take it today. Tomorrow it’s another day with a harder course, so I don’t expect to perform, I’ll take it as kind of a rest day and stage 4 in Lillehammer is too hilly for me, so now the focus is on the last day for me.”

The daily breakaway was formed from the beginning of the second stage (Drobak – Sarpsborg, 195 km) – 6 riders went out in an escape with 4 minutes of advantage. However, thanks to Team Katusha, the break was neutralized with around 40 km to go.

Right after that with the strong crosswind a number of attacks exploded the peloton. As a result, with around 30km to go two riders went clear – Marc De Maar from UnitedHealthCare and Maciej Paterski from CCC Polsat. A group of 11 riders tried to chase them.

Finally, De Maar and Paterski deicded the victory, taken by De Maar, who also took the lead in the general classification of the Tour of Norway.

Just before the finish, the peloton caught the chasing group of 11 riders and Alexander Kristoff won the bunch sprint for 3rd place.

"The team was really good today and I am proud for our guys," added sports director of Team Katusha Torsten Schmidt. "They did a very strong race and did all possible to respect the yellow jersey and to help Alexander to fight for the stage.

"In the final there was a strong crosswind and we had only 4 riders to support Alex. It was not enough to control the situation.  We kept on fighting till the finish line and the 3rd place of Kristoff proves it."

After 2 stages Marc De Maar is the leader, while Alexander Kristoff is 3rd 10 seconds behind. Kristoff is the leader of the points classification (green jersey).