WorldTour men in first race since lock-down; young pros best uphill

Today's TT winner in Norway, Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Norwegian Development Team), on his way to stage and overall victory at Course de la Paix Grand Prix Priessnitz spa (2.Ncup) in the Czech Republic last year

No UCI races can take place until July 1st but that hasn't stopped a small number of riders from some of the world's top teams getting in some competition today.

In what was Norway's first race since the country began relaxing lock-down conditions, 10 riders lined up today for a hill climb TT.

The race took place up the 4.1km climb of Klatrekongen at Krokskogen just outside Oslo. The climb, averaging just over 7 per cent but reaching 15 per cent at times, took the winner just over 10 minutes.

The honours went to Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Norwegian Development Team); riding the climb in 10:12.

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The 20-year-old, who will join Team Sunweb next year on a three-year contract, was 21 seconds faster than Tobias Foss; the 22-year who won last year's Tour de l'Avenir.

Foss has since moved up to the top tier with Jumbo-Visma but on his debut with the team in Portugal in February he crashed on the second stage of Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and broke his collar bone.

Rounding out the podium today was Ådne Holter (Joker Fuel of Norway), the 19-year-old finishing 34 seconds down on the winner.

Because the TT was a national event, and did not have UCI grading, it was not governed by the direction that no UCI races should take place before July 1st and no WorldTour races being permitted before August 1st.

Tobias Foss on his way to Tour de l'Avenir victory last year before joining Jumbo-Visma. He has recovered from an early crash this year and took 2nd place today in the hill climb in Norway

May 20th: Klatrekongen TT (4.1km)

Krokskogen, Norway

  1. Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Norwegian) 10mins 12secs
  2. Tobias Foss (Jumbo Visma) at 21 secs
  3. Ådne Holter (Joker Fuel of Norway) at 34
  4. Iver Knotten (Team Coop) at 37
  5. Carl Fredrick Hagen (Lotto Soudal) at 39
  6. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NTT Pro Cycling) at 43
  7. Rasmus Tiller (NTT Pro Cycling) at 57
  8. Torstein Træen (Uno-X Norwegian) at 1:28
  9. Øivind Lukkedal (Joker Fuel of Norway) at 1:34
  10. Trond Håkon Trondsen (Team Coop) at 1:34
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