The 2015 Arctic Race of Norway was a four-stage cycling stage race that took place in Norway between 13 and 16 August. It was the third edition of the Arctic Race of Norway and is rated as a 2.HC event as part of the UCI Europe Tour.[1] The race is the northernmost race in the 2015 men's cycling calendar.[2] The champion of the 2014 edition was Steven Kruijswijk, though he was not present to defend his title.[1]
The race was won by Rein Taaramäe (Astana) on the final stage, ahead of Silvan Dillier (BMC Racing Team) and Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha), after the three riders broke away from the pack on the finishing circuit. Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) won the first stage and the points classification, while the mountains classification was won by August Jensen (Team Coop-Øster Hus). BMC won the teams classification.
22 teams were invited to take part in the race. Seven of these were UCI WorldTeams; 9 were UCI Professional Continental teams; five were UCI Continental teams.[1] Each team entered six riders, so the peloton at the start of the race was made up of 126 riders.[4]
UCI WorldTeams
UCI Professional Continental teams
UCI Continental teams
The principal stage in the general classification was expected to be the third stage, the summit finish in Målselv Municipality. This stage was expected to favour the climbers, such as Rein Taaramäe (Astana), Louis Meintjes (MTN–Qhubeka) and Ilnur Zakarin (Team Katusha), who were therefore the favourites for the overall victory. The other stages were expected to be won by sprinters. Two of the prominent sprinters in the race were the Norwegians Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN–Qhubeka). Other sprinters present included Sam Bennett (Bora–Argon 18), Bryan Coquard (Team Europcar) and Niccolò Bonifazio and Davide Cimolai (both Lampre–Merida).[2]
13 August 2015 – Harstad to Harstad, 210 km (130 mi)
14 August 2015 – Evenskjer to Setermoen, 155 km (96 mi)
15 August 2015 – Finnsnes on Senja to Fjellandsby in Målselv, 175 km (109 mi)
16 August 2015 – Narvik to Narvik, 160 km (99 mi)
The race included four main classifications: the general classification, the points classification, the mountains classification and the youth classification. There was also an award for the most aggressive rider on each stage and a team classification.[5]