CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"We had to drop Kristoff, who's normally a sprinter but who can climb, too," Elijzen said to the Belkin website. "In the end, it was Spilak who was very strong, but Kruijswijk was on a good day, too."

Photo: Belkin Pro Cycling Team

ARCTIC RACE OF NORWAY

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS

STEVEN KRUIJSWIJK

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS
16.08.2014 @ 18:04 Posted by Andy Pedersen

Steven Kruijswijk of the Belkin Pro Cycling Team assumed the overall lead at the 2014 Arctic Tour of Norway on Saturday, climbing to second place behind winner Simon Spilak of Katusha in the race's 132km third stage from Alta to Kvænangsfjellet pass.

 

The duo finished 15 seconds ahead of the main peloton, led by Belkin's Jonathan Hivert of France, who took the sprint for third place.

 

Kruijswijk, 27, now leads the Arctic Tour overall with an advantage of 8 seconds over Belkin teammate Lars Petter Nordhaug, who led the tour of his home country since winning the race's first stage on Thursday. Hivert moved into fifth place overall, at +0:24.

 

The stage, which began in Alta, Norway's City of the Northern Lights, wound its way along the scenic northern coast of Norway's Finnmark region before reaching the climb to Kvænangsfjellet pass, at 410 meters above sea level.

 

Belkin Pro Cycling Team Director Michiel Elijzen said the team worked hard to keep its top three contenders — Kruijswijk, Nordhaug and Hivert — as fresh as possible before the finale, knowing Katusha would be on the offensive. Belkin's main concern, he said, was distancing Alexander Kristoff of Katusha, who won Friday's stage in a bunch sprint.

 

"We controlled the stage today, trying to make the pace as hard as possible to the beginning of the final climb. We had to drop Kristoff, who's normally a sprinter but who can climb, too," Elijzen said to the Belkin website. "In the end, it was Spilak who was very strong, but Kruijswijk was on a good day, too."

 

When the attacks came, it was Kruijswijk who was able to go with the winning move. He said he thought of trying to win the stage, as well.

 

"I went with Spilak when he attacked. I went as hard as I could to follow him," Kruijswijk said. "With 500 meters to go I tried to pass him but it was not possible."

 

The Arctic Tour of Norway concludes Sunday with the 165km fourth stage, which begins and ends in Tromsø, Northern Norway's largest city. "I predict a bunch sprint tomorrow," said Elijzen. "I don't think it will be a problem for us to maintain the lead. Keeping the jersey on the team is the most important thing."

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Patrick VIDEIRA
30 years | today
Jan ULLRICH
51 years | today
Joe EVANS
28 years | today
Milan NAPRSTEK
38 years | today
Laura MAROTTA
37 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com