Arctic Race of Norway kicks off in borderland

Stunning northern wilderness along the coast to the Barents Sea is the scenic backdrops as tens of millions of people watch the race on TV this week.

Never before has a race sponsored by the International Cycling Union happened so far north. Here, the challenge for the police and guards is not only keeping cars or people of the route as the 19 teams with 113 participants speed by, they also need to keep an eye on possible reindeer crossing the roads.

Entering Kirkenes after the tour around the Varanger fjord in the northeasternmost part of Norway, Mathieu van der Poel from the Nethernland became winner of the first stage on Wednesday. After Kirkenes, the race moves on with start in Tana on Thursday for the 195 kilometers towards Kjøllefjord, one of the world’s northernmost fishing villages. Here, Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg will welcome the bicyclists.

Then, the teams will cross the fjord by boat before next day’s stage from the race Honningsvåg, the nearest town to the North Cape, to Hammerefest.

Final stage goes on Sunday from Kvalsund to Alta where the overall winner takes it all Sunday afternoon.

With daylight around-the-clock, Arctic Race of Norway has gained worldwide TV coverage and become famous among elite cyclists. First held in 2013, the race has made its way through different areas of northern Norway, both north and south of the Arctic Circle.