00:00you're one of the favorites yeah well okay that's uh there's some pressure but okay
00:10it still feels like my home race last stage in Tromsø where I grew up it's a race I always look
00:18forward to I always want to have it on my schedule so yeah it's a race I really enjoy it
00:23of course it's home race for Univex Norway team so they're not going to make it easy that's for sure
00:31first race in a long time I'm racing this year on the road so yeah a bit a little bit unknown but
00:37yeah we'll see I think I've done some good training I'm in good shape I think small peloton here so a
00:43lot of teams will want to get something out of the next four days and I think it should be a good race
00:47I think stays free is the day day the GC is decided on the line it's going to be Ben Hermans doubles up
00:58brilliant stuff from the Belgian he wins again in myself it's my last year and it's my last two
01:06months I would say so it's also my last race in Norway make you think about yeah what we've done the last
01:1420 years you know a bit sad but also it's time for everything for me personally I really hope I can
01:26yeah cross the line first at least one time
01:29is this crazy yes not not something I trained for so it was more scary than expected
01:50I don't want to uh to hit the deck here
01:59the arctic race of Norway the 12th edition of the great event getting underway today
02:09destination Harstad even the prime minister turned up to take it on well he wanted to witness something
02:16very special that's precisely what we got a mixed course with mountains out there to tempt the
02:22breakaway potentially and a beautiful backdrop as ever some rain some sunshine popping out as well
02:28through the course of the day and it was to draw out some big ambitions from a breakaway we had one as
02:34well took a while to establish itself but ultimately we had four up the road including Freddie Devon
02:39who looked very very strong indeed he was looking for mountains points and intermediate sprint bonuses
02:44as well they duly came and went but ultimately this was to be a wind in by the peloton
02:50good for UNOX to have implanted somebody up the road likewise picnic poster now had
02:56Romain Cambo up front and I have to say there was a mountains jersey up for grabs and that was a big
03:02temptation for the likes of storm Inge Blitzen he making sure that he was always in the right place
03:07at the wet time and he came across the line throwing his bike at those mountain points
03:13and guaranteeing himself the northern lights jersey by the end of the day
03:18super work by him that was his intention and he delivered
03:22well the rain came down and of course with having two big loops
03:27and a tie to one at the end which would bring us to our final sprint
03:32we crossed the line to hear the bell and everyone knew what was coming
03:35lots of rain lots of unstable surfaces and of course potentially a sprint finish the breakaway had
03:42done its job of moderating the day the sprint teams well there was a few rolls of the dice from
03:48others that wanted to deny the fast men but ultimately this was hard work done by absolutely
03:53everybody and the breakaway of course was destined to be disappointed one last climb going the way of
04:01Inge Britsen for team co-op Repsol credit to them and credit as well to some of the teams like
04:07Iepo Kern Farmer that really did a lot of the chasing hoping to shake out the fast men it didn't happen
04:13we were all bunched together as we came to Haarstad our grand finale
04:16still there were some opportunities thought the likes of Jenti van der Velde but it wasn't to be
04:22he joined by two others but really this was all going to be about the sprinters with the favourites
04:28come through and deliver a grandstand finale
04:31Alexander Kristoff waiting to launch can he get there starting to chug just a little bit has indeed
04:38he run out of power and this is your big drag race as we start to just turn into the corner
04:43Astana look like they've bags you this one but well you've got to be brave to go for it and Corb go for it
04:49Finheim goes Corbin strong still waiting in third man here is he going to have a dig
04:53waiting waiting waiting got company as well with Skaroni also in the frame here
04:58they're coming around the corner are they going to neutralize each other here
05:01running out of rows running out of patience running out of time
05:06oh running away from it brilliant work absolutely superb
05:10I enjoy the pressure actually I enjoy uh feeling the the pressure of uh yeah the guys uh really
05:20putting in their their best to help me um obviously everyone in the sports train is really really hard
05:26to so to see uh the work my teammates put in and and then uh the way they sacrifice for me on a
05:33race uh yeah really motivates me Corbin strong delivering both he and Riley Sheehan phenomenal
05:41performance what a great win it was for the Kiwi taking his day's prize beautifully
05:48Russell Stiller making up the day's podium ahead of Rick Plumas again to Behrmans rounding out the top
05:53five they'll all have another chance tomorrow Corbin strong as stage winner with the bonuses
06:00of course leads overall and the midnight sun jersey belongs to him despite the shivers you'll love this
