Profiles & Route Arctic Race of Norway 2023

Profiles. Throughout the 17th to the 20th of August, at the peak of summer, the snow defrosts in the Arctic circle and the peloton travels to northern Norway to race the Arctic Race of Norway. It is a four-day stage-race that should feature good racing despite the crowded calendar position.

Following the World Championships, right before the Vuelta a Espana, and alongside several other stage-races, it is a highly contested position in the calendar. The Arctic Race of Norway provides opportunities for the puncheurs, classics riders and climbers this year with it's four stages in what is a rather unique landscape.

The opening stage will see a hilltop finish in Alta. It is a tricky finale with four laps of an explosive circuit that features two ascents: 1.6Km at 4.4% and 1.3Km at 3.2%, the latter coincides with the finish line, providing terrain where some sprinters can survive to fight for the win too.

Stage two into Hammerfest includes more climbing early on, but will not see a circuit towards the finish. It is another mixed day where many riders can be in contention however, the fight for the victory should come down to the finall hilltop, where there are 900 meters at 6%, ending right inside the final kilometer.

Stage three is perhaps the queen stage, if you could call one that. It has a couple of climbs throughout the day but the goal will be to save everything for the final ascent. Into Havoysund, the final climb features 2.2 kilometers at 10%, more than enough to create serious differences in such a small race, and it can decide the GC altogether.

The final day of racing will the the riders all the way into the North Cape. It's a hilly day, a mix of the previous days, it doesn't include a summit finish but the final few hundred meters are uphill, after two ascents of 4.2Km at 5.5% and 3.1Km at 7.4%.