Stölting prepare themselves for a busy week where they will be active at the Tour de l'Ain, the Arctic Race of Norway and the Rio Olympics.

Tour de l'Ain (2.1)
The Tour de l'Ain (2.1) in the French département of the same name offers both flat and mountainous stages on the four days of the race.

Stage 1 from La Plaine Tonique to Saint-Vulbas is flat, stage 2 to Montréal-la-Cluse is more challenging with two ascents of the Côte de Cessiat in the final, it is also the longest of the race at 173.2 km. Stage 3 from Nantua to Lélex snakes through the Jura mountains with five classified climbs an an uphill finish at the ski resort of Lélex Monts-Jura. The final stage from Lagnieu to Belley is short at only 132.2 km, but includes the biggest climb of the race with the 13 km Col du Grand Colombier (categorie HC). Even though there are 30 mostly flat kilometres after the descent, the Grand Colombier that was also raced in this year's Tour de France will certainly make a selection.

Romain Lemarchand (FRA) is one of the riders representing Team Stölting Service Group in France. He is joined by Germans Moritz Backofen, Lennard Kämna, Thomas Koep, and Sven Reutter.

Sports Director André Steensen (DEN) says: “The race is held in an area visited by the Tour de France in its final week this year; it will be a hard race. We will try to take our chances in the final of the first stages and see how the race develops after that.”

RIDERS
Moritz Backofen (GER)
Lennard Kämna (GER)
Thomas Koep (GER)
Romain Lemarchand (FRA)
Sven Reutter (GER)

Arctic Race of Norway (2.HC)
In its fourth edition, the Arctic Race of Norway (2.HC) is held in the county of Nordland, with two stages each to the north and the south of the Arctic Circle.

Stage 1 from Fauske to Rognan also passes through Bodø, the capital of Nordland. The 8.7 km climb of Ljøsenhammeren in the final of the stage means that not all sprinters will make it to the finish in the first group. On stage 2 from Mo i Rana to Sandnessjøen riders will climb Korgfjellet for the first time, but it is early in the stage and therefore unlikely to be decisive. Instead, two laps of a finishing circuit in Sandnessjøen with a short, but steep ramp will decide the stage.

Korgfjellet is the finishing climb of stage 3 that starts in Nesna. The 160 km parcours offers three smaller climbs before the 8.9 km ascent to the finish at an altitude of 575 m is the scene for the fight between the GC favourites. The fourth and final stage starts at the Arctic Circle, heading north to Bodø. Despite three classified climbs on the route, a sprint is expected after three laps of a local finishing circuit.

Team Stölting Service Group fields four Danes in their northern neighbouring country, Rasmus Guldhammer, Mads Pedersen, Michael Reihs and Danish champion Alexander Kamp. They are joined by Alex Kirsch (LUX) and Fabian Wegmann (GER).

Sports Director Jochen Hahn (GER) thinks: “The Arctic Race has a strong peloton with eleven WorldTour squads. We don't have a true climber, meaning that a top GC result will be difficult. Instead we'll target individual stages; we have several riders who can mix it up on the three other stages.”

RIDERS
Rasmus Guldhammer (DEN)
Alexander Kamp (DEN)
Alex Kirsch (LUX)
Mads Pedersen (DEN)
Michael Reihs (DEN)
Fabian Wegmann (GER)

Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro
While their teammates race on the road in Europe, two Team Stölting Service Group riders will participate in the track cycling competitions at the Olympic Games in Rio. Lasse Norman Hansen and Rasmus Quaade are important riders in the Danish Olympic team.

Both Quaade and Norman Hansen are part of the Danish team pursuit squad and placed fifth in the 4000 m team pursuit at the London Games four years ago. In Rio, together with the rest of the national team, they target a medal. The team pursuit qualifying heats take place on 11 August, and the head-to-head heats for the eight best teams and the all-important finals follow on 12 August.

For Lasse Norman Hansen, the Olympics won't be over after the team pursuit as he also starts in the omnium. A combination of six disciplines, only complete riders with stamina and a good sprint can compete for the medals. Norman Hansen has proven his worth in the omnium several times, most of all with the Olympic gold medal four years ago in London. The first three disciplines – scratch race, individual pursuit and an elimination race – are held on 14 August, the final three disciplines – 1 km time trial, flying lap and finally the points race – are held on 15 August.

RIDERS
Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN, Team Pursuit & Omnium)
Rasmus Quaade (DEN, Team Pursuit)