The 162.5 kilometer second stage of Arctic Race of Norway from Harstad to Setermoen was dominated by a six -ider breakaway but the stage was controlled by the Katusha team and another bunch sprint decision in the Setermoen military camp was expected.

With 35 kilometers to go, the breakaway was split in half and in the meantime, CULT Energy Pro Cycling moved near the front of the field and helped reeling the last standing escapee in. From then on, IAM Cycling took over the front seat, keeping the pace up and not allowing any counter-attacks.

In the furiously chaotic bunch sprint, Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon) suddenly found his way through and took the stage win ahead of Federico Zurlo (UnitedHealthCare) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) who retained the overall lead before tomorrow’s 183 kilometer hilly stage.

CULT Energy's Rasmus Guldhammer is 11th, Fabian Wegmann 14th and Linus Gerdemann 26th - all three are 11 seconds behind the leader's jersey before tomorrow's uphill finish.

"The team did what they could to join today's breakaway but we just didn't make it. There was a lot of action in the beginning of the stage as everyone seemed immensely interested in getting away. But as the ship sailed off, we stayed near the front to avoid mishaps. Tomorrow's stage seems to be a better fit for us with the uphill finish and we have three cards to play in the finale and eventually we'll support the one with the best legs in the finale," says DS Michael Skelde.