Nicolas Roche was up the road for much of the day on the opening stage of the Arctic Race of Norway. Mathieu van der Poel claimed victory and the race lead, above.

Mathieu van der Poel wins Arctic Race of Norway stage 1

Nicolas Roche has put in a solid start to the Arctic Race of Norway, going clear in a large breakaway on the opening stage.

That group of some 30 riders was caught with 35km remaining. And the race would later fracture in the final uphill push to the line.

Roche ended the stage in 28^th place, in a group 25 seconds down on winner Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon Circus).

The Irish rider got caught behind a crash in the last 200 metres. And because it was uphill the riders held up, or those who fell, were not given the same time as those they had been with when it occurred.

Van de Poel, who claimed road race silver at last Sunday’s European Championships in Glasgow, was much too strong on the drag up to the line.

While the top eight riders finished on the same time, there was no doubting the outcome once van der Poel pulled the trigger.

Sergei Chernetski (Astana) was 2^nd, with Benjamin Declercq (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) taking 3^rd place.

The large escape that Nicolas Roche was in got clear at the 34km mark after a very aggressive start to the race in crosswinds.

However, while they built a gap of two minutes and fought out the intermediate sprints and climbers’ primes, the group was too big to ride for time.

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Roche's large breakaway up the road. Fans turned out in traditional costume all along the route today.

And back in the peloton Israel Cycling Academy and Rally Cycling kept the pace on.

As a result, with about 35km remaining of the 184km stage from Vadsø to Kirkenes the breakaway was caught but for eight riders.

And while two of their number survived until 6.5km to go, when the final local lap was beginning, two more would then take flight.

Angelo Tulik (Direct Energie) and Markus Hoelgaard (Joker Icopal) pulled out a decent gap. But when they hit the incline to the finish line they had only seconds in hand.

They were mopped up with 300 metres remaining. Mathieu van der Poel then jumped just 200 metres from the line. And once he did it was all over; the crash happening behind him.

The Dutch road race champion, and former world and European cyclocross champion, demolished the uphill sprint.

Roche lost more time than he would have liked as the reduced peloton split in the finishing sprint due to the crash.

However, having been forced to abandon the recent Tour of Poland with illness, today was a very solid return to racing for him.

The action continues at the Arctic Race of Norway tomorrow with 195km from Tana to Kjøllefjord.

There are six categorised, the last of which is a steep 3.2km ascent. It is crested 36km from the finish and may spilt the race.

Stage 1 highlights