Ireland’s Martyn Irvine in action on a wet and very hard stage at the Arctic Race of Norway. The field would split to pieces, with Belgian cyclist Dylan Teuns coming out on top. He put in a fantastic finishing effort.
Dylan Teuns demolishes Arctic Race of Norway
Young Belgian cyclist Dylan Teuns has underlined his class with a powerful stage win at the Arctic Race of Norway.
Aqua Blue Sport was right in the mix at the end of a very difficult stage. Michael Kreder placed 10th for the Irish ProContinental outfit.
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It was a strong ride by Kreder on a day when the field split to pieces on the climbs.
A front group of 30 splintered in the final kilometre, with the rest of the riders scattered much further down the road.
The two Irish riders in the race - Aqua Blue Sport's Matt Brammeier and Martyn Irvine - finished in 109th and 112th respectively.
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For Dylan Teuns (BMC Racing) it was a case of business as usual; putting in a long and powerful sprint to claim victory.
The 25-year-old has really begun to hit his stride of late. He has just won the Tour of Poland overall, also taking a stage win there.
Just before that victory he won the VOO-Tour de Wallonie (2.HC); taking two stages in the process.
Today's opening stage in Norway turned very wet. And with a cat 2 climb crested at 63km and a cat 1 at 89km, it was challenging throughout.
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The final climb - a cat 1 halfway around the 10.5km finishing circuit - really split what was left of the peloton.
And with a ramp up to the line in Narvik, Teuns took it up early and demolished the finish. He was victorious two seconds clear of a group of 13 riders.
Aqua Blue Sport’s Kreder said he had been hoping for better than 9th on the stage.
“I was hoping to get a bit better, like a top five or a podium place,” he said.
“With just 1km to go I was in fourth or fifth position. But just before we hit the climb the guys from the back swung around me.
“I ended up in 15th position, and then I just came too late at the finish.
“But I’m feeling really good, I have a lot of good power in my legs and I’m happy.”
He added he was looking for a strong general classification position at the Arctic Race of Norway.
“The third stage has a 5km climb. And the last day has some finishing laps with a 2km climb and an 8 per cent average. These suit me so I’ll definitely be giving it a go.”
Stage 1: Engenes (Andørja) – Narvik (156.5km)
1 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team 3:36:14
2 August Jensen (Nor) Team Coop 0:00:02
3 Andrea Pasqualon (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
4 Olivier Pardini (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect
5 Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Joker Icopal
6 Markus Hoelgaard (Nor) Joker Icopal
7 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin
8 Lietaer Eliot (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise
9 Michel Kreder (Ned) Aqua Blue Sport
10 Fabien Grellier (Fra) Direct Energie
73 Calvin Watson (Aus) Aqua Blue Sport 0:03:04
82 Peter Koning (Ned) Aqua Blue Sport 0:05:01
109 Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Aqua Blue Sport 0:08:52
112 Martyn Irvine (Irl) Aqua Blue Sport 0:16:32
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