Arctic Race of Norway: Eiking wins stage 3 to Storheia Summit

Odd Christian Eiking (Wanty Gobert) gave Norway a home win at the Arctic Race of Norway, winning atop the steep 3.5km climb to Storheia Summit on the Queen stage 3 of this year's race.

Eiking managed to edge clear of Warren Barguil (Arkea Samsic) and Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) in the final 400 metres to win alone.

Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) tried to stay with the leaders on the 11.8 per cent climb but cracked half-way up and eventually eased up, losing more than a minute and any chance of overall victory.

Barguil limited his losses to Eiking to five seconds, with Lutsenko losing 13 seconds. The time bonuses meant Barguil took the race lead, with Lutsenko second art just three seconds. Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy) is third at 15 seconds, with only Sunday's fourth and final hilly stage to Narvik left to race.

"I have mixed feeling," Barguil admitted after pulling on the orange leader's jersey but missing out on the stage victory.

"I knew Chris was racing at home, that he wanted to win and that he's in good shape. The climb suited him and he was better than me. I got close but not enough; even if second is not bad.

"I don't know if a three-second lead is enough to win tomorrow. It's not only Lutsenko; there are a lot of guys at 15 seconds or so. There are also the intermediate sprints and Lutsenko can catch if he wins one of them. I need to be careful and I can trust my teammates so that we can do our best."

The loop around the islands and inlets of Nordland were stunning but everyone in the peloton was focused on the climb to the finish at Storheia, dubbed the Mont Ventoux of Norway, due to its barren peak and huge communications antenna.

An early break of five riders included sprinter and stage 2 winner Bryan Coquard (Vital Concept-B&B Hotels). They opened a lead of 3:20 but Astana, Katusha-Alpecin and Delko Marseille lead the chase.

Local rider Erlend Blikra (Team Coop) was the last to be caught as the Storheia climb loomed large and the newly surfaced road steepened. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) was dropped after a mechanical problem, with Loïc Vliegen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) the first to go clear off the bunch, perhaps as a tactical play by Eiking. Barguil followed him, the gradient and the increase in speed cracking van der Poel.

Lutsenko and Hugo Houle (Astana), Eiking and Barguil were left up front, as everyone else fought to limit their losses.

Lilian Calmejane (Total Direct Energie) and Krists Neilands (Israel Cycling Academy) made the junction inside the steep last kilometre as the end game approached but Eiking soon made his move, powering away from Barguil and Lutsenko, after they had watched each other.

"It feels amazing, to take my first win of the year, here on this finish, with these strong riders, it's an incredible feeling," Eiking said.

"They slowed with one kilometre to go and I saw riders coming from behind, so l knew that I had to go early. So I went as hard as could with 400 metres to go. At one moment I thought: 'Oh shit! This is not going to work' But I had a big, big gap and could keep going and win. I'm really happy."

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