Arctic Race of Norway: Ben Hermans wins queen stage

Ben Hermans (Israel Start-Up Nation) won the Målselv uphill finish at the Arctic Tour of Norway, holding of a late charge from Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty) and Victor Lafay (Cofidis) after the 3.7km climb to the line shook out the peloton and revealed who were the best climbers.

Hermans is also the new race leader after Alexander Kristoff (Norway) lost time. He will be hoping to secure overall victory on Sunday after the final hilly stage to Harstad. The 35-year-old Belgian leads Eiking by four seconds in the overall classification, with Lafay third at six seconds. Talented young Italian Samuele Battistella (Astana-Premier Tech) was fourth on the stage at 12 seconds and moved up fourth overall.  

The Belgian won a similar stage to Målselv six years ago but then lost a chance of overall victory on the final stage. This time the bonus seconds awarded during the stage and at the finish could be a factor in deciding the final winner.

“It was so nice because I won here also in 2015 and I've replayed this finish many times when I was riding on the rollers because it was so surprising that I won,” Hermans said.

“It was really nice to do it again just the same. When you start as a favourite there's a really big thing that falls off your shoulders. I'm so happy I could finish this off for the team.”

Hermans used his knowledge of the finish and of his own ability to win the stage.

“I know that some guys who were there with me were more explosive than me and that's why I went at 500m, at 95%, almost all out, knowing that I could match them in the sprint after the corner,” Hermans explained.

“If you have good legs and you start with 250m to go, with all you have, it's very difficult to pass. It was good I knew this finish.”

The 184.5km stage included a long loop around the island of Senja, offering further views of northern Norway and the spectacular coastline and summer skies.

Five riders formed the early break after 20km, with Frederik Dversnes (Team Coop) riding to defend the lead in the mountain’s jersey that awards a huge quantity of Norwegian salmon to the final winner.

Also in the move were stage 2 winner Martin Laas (Bora-Hansgrohe), Jens Reynders (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Julien Duval (Ag2r Citroen) and they opened a 2:30 lead as the Uno-X team lead the chase.

Arkea-Samsic took control of the peloton with 20km to go, riding for Warren Barguil and bringing the gap down to one minute.

Dversnes and Azparren dropped the rest of the break as the road headed to the foot of the climb but the peloton came up to them quickly as the gradient and a series of switchbacks began to hurt.

The peloton was soon lined out, with gaps opening all the time and riders dropped. Kristoff was gapped with two kilometres to go but fought on to try to limit his losses. However, he finished a minute down and so lost his leader’s yellow jersey any chance of overall success.

Giro d’Italia stage winner Lafay attacked with a kilometre to go and Hermans, Eiking and talented young Italian Samuele Battistella (Astana-PremierTech) went after him as others slipped back and lost time.

The sprint called for one final effort and Hermans knew he had to hit out early. Eiking was near him and almost snatched the win with a late throw to the line but Hermans won by less than a wheel to take the race lead and give him a shot at final victory on Sunday.