After winding its way through the Nordland and Troms regions in 2013, the Arctic Race of Norway (August 14–17) is set to continue exploring northern Norway with two stages in Finnmark, starting with a historical push towards North Cape. The profiles of these stages should make them a punchers' affair…

  

Last year, the Arctic Race of Norway became the first professional cycling race held inside the Arctic Circle. It will now go a step further, taking the peloton 400 kilometres further north. The northernmost event in the history of the sport will set an almost unbreakable record with the finish of stage 1 on North Cape. This place of outstanding beauty will be exceptionally open to the public for free, towering 400 metres above the Arctic Ocean and, far, far away… the North Pole! The leap to higher latitudes will also bring different types of terrain, affecting the development of the race. After the first "underwater" mountain points ever (the exit from Magerøya island lies 5 metres below sea level!), two tough climbs will provide a springboard for the pluckiest punchers to attempt to smash the peloton to pieces, with the top of Vestfjordfjellet coming a mere 6 km before the finish.

 

The nature of the second edition should force Thor Hushovd to put on his climbing cap if he is to defend his title. He will get an opportunity to show off his sprinting skills, though, when the race comes to Alta, but he will have to see off another supersonic Viking in the shape of Milan – San Remo winner Alexander Kristoff. The green jersey of the 2009 Tour de France braved the highest mountain passes in his quest for glory. The stage 3 climbs are not as steep as the Pyrenees, but Hushovd and the others will clash on an ascent long and hard enough (6.9 km at an average gradient of 5.7%) to blow the peloton to smithereens ahead of the first summit finish (400 m!) in stage 3 to Kvænangsfjellet.

 

The 2014 Arctic Race of Norway will come to a close with a loop stage. The bunch will first roll around the coast of Kvaløya island before tackling a highly dynamic urban circuit in the streets of the largest city in northern Norway. With five laps in all, potentially decisive bonus seconds on offer at two intermediate sprints, a bump 2 km from the finish line and the prospect of a record-breaking crowd out to watch the first visit of the peloton, everything is in place for cycling fever to grip Tromsø!

 

Jean-Etienne Amaury (President of A.S.O.): This year, the Arctic Race of Norway will go further down in in cycling history, with the most northern finishing line ever crossed. It shows that cycling is at home everywhere, on all continents and in all countries.

 

Knut-Eirik Dybdal (Director of the Arctic Race of Norway) : The second edition of the Arctic Race of Norway will be both wild and beautiful. We are confident that the landscape and people along the route will present themselves from the best side. Welcome to another spectacular chapter of the Arctic Race of Norway!

 

 

Stage 1 (14 august): Hammerfest - North Cape (204 km)

Stage 2 (15 august): Honningsvåg - Alta (207 km)

Stage 3 (16 august): Alta - Kvænangsfjellet (132 km)

Stage 4 (17 august): Tromsø - Tromsø (165 km)