Friday, August 14th, 2nd stage : Bø I Vesterålen > Andenes
Winning at home is a dream for every rider. Today, that dream became reality for Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility), seven years after his first appearance at the Arctic Race of Norway, where he is making his return this week. The 29-year-old Norwegian sprinter powered to victory in Andenes, holding off the efforts of Britain’s Ethan Vernon (NSN, 2nd) and Italy’s Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta, 3rd), yesterday’s winner who retains the Midnight Sun jersey. Blikra claimed Norway’s 18th victory on home soil, on the race’s 50th stage. It’s also the third consecutive year that a local rider, and a rider from Uno-X Mobility, has raised his arms in victory at least once. With the general classification favourites understandably keeping a low profile since the start, they should come to the fore tomorrow, on the road from Stokmarknes to the Storheia climb (3.5 km at 11.8%). The “Norwegian Mont Ventoux” will host the finish of a potentially decisive third stage in the battle for the 13th Arctic Race of Norway.
The sunshine of the previous day gave way to thick clouds as the peloton of the 2026 Arctic Race of Norway set off for the second stage. But the thunderstorms that had long been feared ultimately amounted to “only” a few light showers, during a day that generally dry. Enough to keep the enthusiasm high among the 107 riders setting off from Bø i Vesterålen towards Andenes, a new stage town whose finish line lies 180 kilometres away.
The breakaway takes shape at kilometre 32
Numerous attacks enlivened the early afternoon, but no one managed to make the difference. The peloton therefore remained together on the first of the two Category 2 climbs, Ryggedals (1.4 km at 6.3% / km 26.3). Dutchman Darren van Bekkum (XDS Astana) goes on the offensive towards the end of the climb and takes the 3 points in the mountains classification, despite an acceleration from Morthern Wang Baksaas (Lucky Sport). But by taking 2 points, the Norwegian strengthens his Northern Lights jersey, which he had claimed the previous day. And four hours later, he would once again wear the same jersey on the podium.
Another Norwegian, his teammate Simen Evertsen-Hegreberg, made his mark on the descent. He attacks with 148 kilometres remaining, prompting his compatriot Ludvik Holstad (Ringerike), Spaniard Joseba Lopez (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Belgian Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise) to follow. The four riders broke clear of the peloton and managed to form the day’s breakaway, much later than the previous day, when it had been established from kilometre zero.
A 140.5-kilometer raid
Simen Evertsen-Hegreberg continues to make his presence felt with an acceleration at the end of the Storvatnet climb (2 km at 4.4% / km 57). It’s also when Herman Eriksen’s (Lillehammer CK) pursuit comes to an end; the Norwegian, who had gone on the counter-attack behind the leaders, makes the junction, becoming the fifth member of the breakaway. The escapees remains firmly under control by a peloton led by Giovanni Lonardi’s Polti VisitMalta and Jason Tesson’s Total Energies. They were the riders who finished first and second in Myre yesterday.
After allowing the gap to reach a maximum of 2 minutes and 15 seconds, the bunch gradually but steadily reels the breakaway riders back in. The gap hovers around the one-minute mark as they enter the final 30 kilometres. The approach to the intermediate sprint in Andenes, held at the first passage across the finish line and offering both points and time bonuses, brings the breakaway to an end with 7.5 kilometres remaining. Guillermo Thomas Silva (XDS Astana) takes the six-second bonus at the sprint, confirming his ambitions in the general classification, which he hopes to take over in the next two days.
Blikra, from local rider to national hero
More technical and narrower than in Myre, the final circuit sees Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility) power to a commanding victory. Seven years after his first appearance here, the Stavanger-born sprinter raises his arms on home roads, becoming the 9th Norwegian to win on the race and securing Norway’s 18th victory in the history of the Arctic Race of Norway. He beats Britain’s Ethan Vernon (NSN) and Italy’s Giovanni Lonardi (Polti VisitMalta), who remains the overall leader thanks to the time bonuses.
Lonardi leads Blikra by four seconds and Sweden’s Teodor De Luca (Lucky Sport) by six seconds; De Luca retains the white jersey as best young rider. With the road set to rise tomorrow in favour of the climbers, Lonardi expects to lose his Midnight Sun jersey. However, he has set his sights on the blue points jersey, which he currently owns too.
Stage 2
1 ERLEND BLIKRA 42 UNO-X MOBILITY 03H 56′ 49” – B : 10” –
2 ETHAN KANE VERNON 5 NSN CYCLING TEAM 03H 56′ 49” – B : 6” –
3 GIOVANNI LONARDI 103 TEAM POLTI VISITMALTA 03H 56′ 49” – B : 4” –
GC
- Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti Visitmalta) 8h01’58”
- Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility) +00’04”
- Teodor de Luca (Lucky Sport Cycling Team) +00’06”
