Fredrik Ludvigsson was the first home for Team Giant-Alpecin on the second stage of the Arctic Race of Norway, finishing 22nd in the race’s second consecutive sprint.

Team Giant-Alpecin hit the front in the final kilometres after the race had come back together with around 15km to go, but the lead-out didn’t work out as planned as the riders faded out of position. At the head of the race it was Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) who took the stage, while the overall race lead remains with third place on the day, Alexander Kristoff (Katusha).

Coach Dirk Reuling said after the stage:

“We focused on Ramon for today’s sprint stage and the final went really well in this sense up until the final sprint itself. We knew we had to be in front at 5km to go and we were there which was very promising.

“We kept Ramon in the front well and Max (Walscheid) put himself on Kristoff’s wheel. In the final kilometre Ramon got pushed a bit which made him lose balance a bit and he struggled to hold position from here.”