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press releases 15.08.2014, 22:36
Arctic Race. Alexander Kristoff takes a perfect win in Alta

Team Katusha controlled the race on Friday in stage 2 of the Arctic Race of Norway, setting the stage for a perfect sprint from Alexander Kristoff to take the win and move into fourth place overall.

- It was an uphill finish during the whole final km. Of course it was not really a hard climb, but anyway the finish was tough enough. I had good legs today as well as yesterday. The team worked very well and the guys did everything they could for me. Marco led me into the final km, but with 400 meters I still was a little bit inside because of the uphill. But later I found my way on the right side and I started my sprint. Yeah, I am happy to win here in Norway again. Every time it is a pleasure for me. I still have one more chance on the final day because tomorrow will be too hard for me. Anyway I will try to do a strong race, because it could be like training for upcoming races. After some rest after Tour de France step by step I am coming back into good shape, - said Alexander Kristoff.

- We knew this stage suited Alex, so the entire team worked hard during the day to lead the peloton, to control the break and to bring Alex to the final km. For us the main thing was to bring Alex to the point at 600 meters to go, because the first 400 meters of the final km were uphill and there were a lot of dangerous corners. We accomplished our mission and with 400 meters to go Alex had a good position. As he prefers, he started his sprint very early, but in the end took a perfect victory. Of course we all are very happy. Tomorrow is a stage with a summit finish. We hope Simon Špilak will attack there for a stage, - said sports director Dmitry Konyshev.

The stage started in Honningsvåg and finished in Alta after 207 kilometers of racing. Facing a headwind for most of the day, speeds were slow on the long stage, seeing the peloton race for well over five hours in the far north of Norway. Four riders formed the original break of the day with two Norwegians the last to be caught near 11 km to go under the control and watchful eye of Team Katusha. As the sprint teams moved forward in preparation of the mass sprint, a big crash in the middle of the main field took down many riders and splintered the peloton into pieces. With Katusha driving hard at the front, the team riders escaped the crash and set up Kristoff to begin his sprint.

On the wheel of teammate Marco Haller, Kristoff sheltered himself from the wind on the slightly uphill finish before finally striking out for the finish line. With daylight between his back wheel and second place finisher Thor Hushovd (BMC), Alex had plenty of time for enthusiastic fist pumping as he crossed the line in victory. Third place went to Edward Theuns of Topsport Vlaanderen. The race lead stayed with yesterday’s winner Lars-Peter Nordhaug (Belkin) and Alexander Kristoff moved into 4th place on the classification at 16-seconds off the pace.

Saturday brings a difficult hilltop finish. At 132 km it’s the shortest stage and begins in today’s finish town of Alta, ending in Kvænangsfjellet.

Photo credit: (c) Tim De Waele