# 2021 Arctic Race of Norway

The 2021 Arctic Race of Norway was a road cycling stage race that took place between 5 and 8 August 2021. Though the race took place mostly in Troms county, Norway. The race also made a brief appearance in Finland, marking the first time that the race ventured outside of Norway. It was the eighth edition of the Arctic Race of Norway, which was rated as a 2.Pro event on the 2021 UCI Europe Tour and the 2021 UCI ProSeries calendars. This edition was the race's first in the UCI ProSeries; the 2020 edition was expected to feature in the inaugural UCI ProSeries but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Teams

Seven UCI WorldTeams, ten UCI ProTeams, one UCI Continental team, and the Norwegian national team made up the nineteen teams that participated in the race. With five riders each, Bora–Hansgrohe, Euskaltel–Euskadi, and Team Qhubeka NextHash were the only teams to not enter a full squad of six riders; 111 riders started the race.
UCI WorldTeams
* AG2R Citroën Team
* Astana–Premier Tech
* Bora–Hansgrohe
* Cofidis
* Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux
* Israel Start-Up Nation
* Team Qhubeka NextHash
UCI ProTeams
* Alpecin–Fenix
* Arkéa–Samsic
* B&B Hotels p/b KTM
* Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB
* Burgos BH
* Delko
* Euskaltel–Euskadi
* Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise
* Team TotalEnergies
* Uno-X Pro Cycling Team
UCI Continental Teams
* Team Coop
National Teams
* Norway

## Route

The 2021 edition of the race used the same route as the one planned for the cancelled 2020 edition; this route was first revealed on 12 November 2019. On the second stage, the race made its first venture outside of Norway for a stage finish in Kilpisjärvi, Finland.
Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Stage winner |
| 1 | 5 August | Tromsø Municipality (around Kvaløya island) | 142.5 km (88.5 mi) | | Hilly stage | Markus Hoelgaard (NOR) |
| 2 | 6 August | Nordkjosbotn (Balsfjord Municipality) to Skibotn (Storfjord Municipality) to Kilpisjärvi (Finland) | 178 km (111 mi) | | Hilly stage | Martin Laas (EST) |
| 3 | 7 August | Finnsnes (Senja Municipality) to Øverbygd (Målselv Municipality (Alpine village) | 184.5 km (114.6 mi) | | Mountain stage | Ben Hermans (BEL) |
| 4 | 8 August | Årstein (Gratangen Municipality) to Harstad (Harstad Municipality) | 163.5 km (101.6 mi) | | Hilly stage | Philipp Walsleben (GER) |
| Total | Total | Total | 668.5 km (415.4 mi) | 668.5 km (415.4 mi) | 668.5 km (415.4 mi) | 668.5 km (415.4 mi) |

## Stages
### Stage 1
#### 5 August 2021 – Tromsø around Kvaløya island and back to Tromsø, 142.5 km (88.5 mi)

Stage 1 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Markus Hoelgaard (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | 3h 11' 29" |
| 2 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Norway | + 2" |
| 3 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 2" |
| 4 | Antonio Jesús Soto (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 2" |
| 5 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | + 2" |
| 6 | Antonio Angulo (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 2" |
| 7 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 2" |
| 8 | Clément Venturini (FRA) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 2" |
| 9 | Aimé De Gendt (BEL) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 2" |
| 10 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 2" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Markus Hoelgaard (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | 3h 11' 19" |
| 2 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Norway | + 6" |
| 3 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 8" |
| 4 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | + 9" |
| 5 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 10" |
| 6 | Antonio Jesús Soto (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 11" |
| 7 | Antonio Angulo (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 12" |
| 8 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 12" |
| 9 | Clément Venturini (FRA) | AG2R Citroën Team | + 12" |
| 10 | Aimé De Gendt (BEL) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 12" |

### Stage 2
#### 6 August 2021 – Nordkjosbotn to Skibotn to Kilpisjärvi (Finland), 178 km (111 mi)

Stage 2 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Martin Laas (EST) | Bora–Hansgrohe | 3h 56' 14" |
| 2 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Norway | + 0" |
| 3 | Danny van Poppel (NED) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 0" |
| 4 | Rudy Barbier (FRA) | Israel Start-Up Nation | + 0" |
| 5 | Manuel Peñalver (ESP) | Burgos BH | + 0" |
| 6 | Arne Marit (BEL) | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 0" |
| 7 | Tom Devriendt (BEL) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 0" |
| 8 | Bram Welten (NED) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 0" |
| 9 | Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) | Team TotalEnergies | + 0" |
| 10 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Norway | 7h 07' 33" |
| 2 | Markus Hoelgaard (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | + 0" |
| 3 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 8" |
| 4 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | + 9" |
| 5 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 10" |
| 6 | Antonio Jesús Soto (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 11" |
| 7 | Laurent Pichon (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 11" |
| 8 | Dries Van Gestel (BEL) | Team TotalEnergies | + 12" |
| 9 | Antonio Angulo (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 12" |
| 10 | Axel Zingle (FRA) | Cofidis | + 12" |

### Stage 3
#### 7 August 2021 – Finnsnes (Senja) to Øverbygd (Alpine village in Målselv), 184.5 km (114.6 mi)

Stage 3 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ben Hermans (BEL) | Israel Start-Up Nation | 4h 14' 28" |
| 2 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 0" |
| 3 | Victor Lafay (FRA) | Cofidis | + 0" |
| 4 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 12" |
| 5 | Eduard Prades (ESP) | Delko | + 19" |
| 6 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | + 19" |
| 7 | Andreas Leknessund (NOR) | Norway | + 19" |
| 8 | Antonio Jesús Soto (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 19" |
| 9 | Pelayo Sánchez (ESP) | Burgos BH | + 19" |
| 10 | Torstein Træen (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | + 22" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ben Hermans (BEL) | Israel Start-Up Nation | 11h 22' 03" |
| 2 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 4" |
| 3 | Victor Lafay (FRA) | Cofidis | + 6" |
| 4 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 20" |
| 5 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | + 26" |
| 6 | Antonio Jesús Soto (ESP) | Euskaltel–Euskadi | + 28" |
| 7 | Eduard Prades (ESP) | Delko | + 29" |
| 8 | Andreas Leknessund (NOR) | Norway | + 29" |
| 9 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 32" |
| 10 | Jacob Eriksson (SWE) | Team Coop | + 36" |

### Stage 4
#### 8 August 2021 – Årstein (Gratangen) to Harstad, 163.5 km (101.6 mi)

Stage 4 Result :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Philipp Walsleben (GER) | Alpecin–Fenix | 3h 41' 40" |
| 2 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Team TotalEnergies | + 0" |
| 3 | Alexandre Delettre (FRA) | Delko | + 17" |
| 4 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 17" |
| 5 | Erik Resell (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | + 19" |
| 6 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 19" |
| 7 | Axel Zingle (FRA) | Cofidis | + 19" |
| 8 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | + 19" |
| 9 | Victor Lafay (FRA) | Cofidis | + 19" |
| 10 | Petr Vakoč (CZE) | Alpecin–Fenix | + 19" |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ben Hermans (BEL) | Israel Start-Up Nation | 15h 04' 02" |
| 2 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 2" |
| 3 | Victor Lafay (FRA) | Cofidis | + 6" |
| 4 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 20" |
| 5 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | + 26" |
| 6 | Eduard Prades (ESP) | Delko | + 29" |
| 7 | Andreas Leknessund (NOR) | Norway | + 29" |
| 8 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 32" |
| 9 | Jacob Eriksson (SWE) | Team Coop | + 36" |
| 10 | Torstein Træen (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | + 50" |

## Classification leadership table

Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Team classification | Combativity award |
| 1 | Markus Hoelgaard | Markus Hoelgaard | Markus Hoelgaard | Gleb Brussenskiy | Samuele Battistella | Norway | Alexis Gougeard |
| 2 | Martin Laas | Alexander Kristoff | Alexander Kristoff | Fredrik Dversnes | Samuele Battistella | Norway | Jimmy Janssens |
| 3 | Ben Hermans | Ben Hermans | Alexander Kristoff | Fredrik Dversnes | Victor Lafay | Astana–Premier Tech | Fredrik Dversnes |
| 4 | Philipp Walsleben | Ben Hermans | Alexander Kristoff | Fredrik Dversnes | Victor Lafay | Astana–Premier Tech | Niki Terpstra |
| Final | Final | Ben Hermans | Alexander Kristoff | Fredrik Dversnes | Victor Lafay | Astana–Premier Tech | Not awarded |
* On stage 2, Alexander Kristoff, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Markus Hoelgaard wore the midnight sun jersey as the leader of the general classification.
* On stage 3, Markus Hoelgaard, who was second in the points classification, wore the green jersey, because first placed Alexander Kristoff wore the midnight sun jersey as the leader of the general classification.

## Final classification standings

Legend :
| Denotes the winner of the general classification | Denotes the winner of the young rider classification |
| Denotes the winner of the points classification | Denotes the winner of the combativity award |
| Denotes the winner of the mountains classification |

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ben Hermans (BEL) | Israel Start-Up Nation | 15h 04' 02" |
| 2 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | + 2" |
| 3 | Victor Lafay (FRA) | Cofidis | + 6" |
| 4 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 20" |
| 5 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | + 26" |
| 6 | Eduard Prades (ESP) | Delko | + 29" |
| 7 | Andreas Leknessund (NOR) | Norway | + 29" |
| 8 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Arkéa–Samsic | + 32" |
| 9 | Jacob Eriksson (SWE) | Team Coop | + 36" |
| 10 | Torstein Træen (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | + 50" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Alexander Kristoff (NOR) | Norway | 24 |
| 2 | Martin Laas (EST) | Bora–Hansgrohe | 22 |
| 3 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | 20 |
| 4 | Philipp Walsleben (GER) | Alpecin–Fenix | 17 |
| 5 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Team TotalEnergies | 17 |
| 6 | Alexandre Delettre (FRA) | Delko | 16 |
| 7 | Ben Hermans (BEL) | Israel Start-Up Nation | 15 |
| 8 | Markus Hoelgaard (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | 15 |
| 9 | Kristian Aasvold (NOR) | Team Coop | 14 |
| 10 | Bryan Coquard (FRA) | B&B Hotels p/b KTM | 13 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Fredrik Dversnes (NOR) | Team Coop | 21 |
| 2 | Niki Terpstra (NED) | Team TotalEnergies | 9 |
| 3 | Gleb Brussenskiy (KAZ) | Astana–Premier Tech | 8 |
| 4 | Tore Andre Vabø (NOR) | Team Coop | 8 |
| 5 | Thomas Champion (FRA) | Cofidis | 7 |
| 6 | Cériel Desal (BEL) | Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB | 7 |
| 7 | Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) | Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux | 6 |
| 8 | Alexis Gougeard (FRA) | AG2R Citroën Team | 6 |
| 9 | Julien Duval (FRA) | AG2R Citroën Team | 6 |
| 10 | Ben Hermans (BEL) | Israel Start-Up Nation | 5 |

### Young rider classification

Final young rider classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Victor Lafay (FRA) | Cofidis | 15h 04' 08" |
| 2 | Samuele Battistella (ITA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 14" |
| 3 | Andreas Leknessund (NOR) | Norway | + 23" |
| 4 | Jacob Eriksson (SWE) | Team Coop | + 30" |
| 5 | Stefan de Bod (RSA) | Astana–Premier Tech | + 55" |
| 6 | Mathieu Burgaudeau (FRA) | Team TotalEnergies | + 57" |
| 7 | Pelayo Sánchez (ESP) | Burgos BH | + 58" |
| 8 | Luc Wirtgen (LUX) | Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB | + 59" |
| 9 | Torjus Sleen (NOR) | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | + 1' 17" |
| 10 | Axel Zingle (FRA) | Cofidis | + 1' 21" |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | Astana–Premier Tech | 45h 14' 35" |
| 2 | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | + 38" |
| 3 | Norway | + 1' 09" |
| 4 | Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB | + 1' 34" |
| 5 | Delko | + 1' 47" |
| 6 | Team Coop | + 3' 06" |
| 7 | AG2R Citroën Team | + 3' 44" |
| 8 | Alpecin–Fenix | + 4' 19" |
| 9 | Team TotalEnergies | + 5' 01" |
| 10 | Sport Vlaanderen–Baloise | + 5' 34" |