Axel Zingle obliterates competition in "tough sprint" at Arctic Race of Norway

Cofidis are in need of points to assure their presence at World Tour level, and after Guillaume Martin took the win at the Tour de l'Ain, Axel Zingle was victorious on the opening day of the Arctic Race of Norway under impressive circumstances.

“I am very happy with this win. It's hard to win outside of France. Last night I was already thinking about today's stage, I knew this finish suited me," Zingle said in the post-race interview. With an open startlist and the cold and rainy weather, it was an opening stage that gave the opportunity for many to succeed, but no rider managed to steer clear of the bunch the way the 23-year oldhas. 

"It was difficult to position well today. It went very fast in the final kilometers, but I knew when to be at the front. The last 500 meters were uphill, which made it a tough sprint," he described. Zingle carefully followed the wheels until the moment where he was to launch his sprint, and when he did he had a different turn of speed in comparison to everyone else.

Zingle put on a second to the competition, and with the bonifications he's taken on he leader's jersey with the ambition to perhaps do more. The coming three stages will all be relatively hilly, however the Frenchman seems to have the form to try and defend it.