Michele Gazzoli of Astana Qazaqstan celebrates at finish line as stage 2 winner ahead of teammate Christian Scaroni in second(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Michele Gazzoli ofAstana Qazaqstan scores the victory at finish line on stage 2(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Sweeping scenery across expanse of Norway(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
The peloton rides 153.4km on stage 2 from Alta to Hammerfest(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
The peloton competes on Stage 2 for 153.4km from Alta to Hammerfest(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
The breakaway has Peder Antoni Gravås of Team Norway (left) riding at the front with Gianmarco Garofoli of Astana Qazaqstan(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Peder Antoni Gravås of Team Norway, Gianmarco Garofoli of Astana Qazaqstan, Vincent Van Hemelen of Flanders-Baloise, Johan Ravny of Team Coop-Repsol, Camilo Andres Gomez of Trinity Racing and Ronan Aug of Groupama-FDJ Continental compete in the breakaway before the catch was made with 85km to go(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
A general view of the peloton passing some four-legged fans (Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Stage 1 winner Alberto Dainese of Team dsm-firmenich in the Yellow Jersey prior to the stage 2 start from Alta(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Michele Gazzoli of Astana Qazaqstan at podium as stage winner(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Briton Noah Hobbs of Groupama-FDJ Continental celebrates at podium as Blue Points Jersey winner after stage 2(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Noah Hobbs of Groupama-FDJ Continental celebrates as Yellow Leader Jersey winner after stage 2(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Noah Vandenbranden of Flanders-Baloise dons the Polka Dot Mountain Jersey(Image credit: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
Michele Gazzoli took a commanding victory on stage 2 at the Arctic Race of Norway, as his team Astana Qazaqstan secured 1-2, with Christian Scaroni in second on the uphill sprint into Hammerfest. Jonathan Lastra (Cofidis) finished third on the day.
"For you, it is a surprise, but for me, I've worked hard for this goal. I'm hungry and totally excited to come back after one year. I worked hard for this, and I'm back," Gazzoli said.
The UCI gave Gazzoli a one-year suspension after he returned a positive test for a banned stimulant, Tuaminoheptane, a decongestant, during the Volta ao Algarve on February 17, 2022.
Gazzoli claimed the positive resulted from using a nasal spray to treat rhinitis, Rhinofluimucil. After the adjudication of the case, the UCI decided to issue a one-year suspension for Gazzoli from August 10, 2022, through August 9, 2023, and disqualified his results from the 2022 Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta.
Upon his return to racing in August, he signed a short-term agreement with Astana Qazaqstan Development Team.
In the general classification at the Arctic Race of Norway, Noah Hobbs (Equipe continental Groupama-FDJ) moved into the overall race lead after picking up important time bonuses during the stage. He is now one second ahead of stage 1 winner Alberto Dainese (Team dsm-firmenich) and Gazzoli in third at the same time.
The second stage of the Arctic Race of Norway was 153.4km from Alta to Hammerfest, started with three mountains; Raipas Summit at the 9.5km mark, Sarves Summit at the 29km mark and Stokkedalen Summit at the 43km mark, before a long descent and undulating roads into the finish in Hammerfest.
Vincent Van Hemelen (Team Flanders-Baloise) picked up the points over top of the first climb, Raipas Summit, forming an early breakaway that also included Ronan Augé (Equipe continentale Groupama-FDJ), Peder Antoni Gravås (Norway), Gianmarco Garofoli (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Johan Ravnøy (Team Coop-Repsol)and Camilo Andres Gomez (Trinity Racing).
Van Hemelen went on to take points over the top of Sarves Summit but was second to Ravnøy over the third and final climb of the day Stokkedalen Summit, but it was enough to secure his top place in the mountains standings.
The move gained more than three minutes on the field led by Team dsm-firmenich, protecting overnight leader Alberto Dainese and Uno X Pro Cycling, as strong crosswinds forced echelons formed on the roads toward Hammerfest.
Uno-X Pro Cycling pulled the peloton through the sprint at Kvalsund and into 35km to go with a pace so high that they split the field, eight riders branching off the front and six of them from the Norwegian team. However, several kilometres later, as the race wound its way along the coast.
The time bonuses on offer were an essential part of the stage, with runner-up in the classification overnight, Hobbs, securing enough bonus seconds to take the virtual lead as the race head into Hammerfest.
The peloton was all together in the final kilometre and wound around the mountain into the Hammerfest toward finish line. Team Jayco AlUla led the field into the last few hundred metres, but the sprinters were also lined out with Dainese on the wheel of Hobbs. However, the day's winners were Astana Qazaqstan Team, which went 1-2 with Gazzoli and Scaroni.
"The last three kilometres were hard with a lot of turns and a small climb for the finish; last 2 kilometres was 4%," Gazzoli said. "I took this climb in a good position, and my legs felt good, my mind was good, this is the day. When I went full gas in the finish, I think I knew."
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
