Alexander Kristoff of Katusha has won the opening stage of Arctic Race Of Norway.
This race, which is entirely north of the Arctic circle and the most northern race in the world, was back for a third year and the four stage race started with a 213.5km stage which started and finished in Harstad and featured a field of riders from 29 different countries.
After fourteen kilometres, seven riders in Maxime Cam, Vegard Stake Laengen, Korner, Breivold, Hafsas, Havard Blikra and Jens Wallays got into a break and had a lead of 6.45 before Blikra took the first sprint of the race.
The lead had gone up to seven minutes but the wind changed and with a strong tailwind, the gap started to drop.
With 87 kilometres of racing under-taken, the gap was at 5.25 and the same when Laengen took the points on the climb at Balteskardet Summit.
The Katusha led peloton upped the pace and the gap was down to 3.20 as the riders went into the final seventy kilometres of the stage.
Blikra took the second sprint and was first over the second climb of the day as the seven out front continued with a lead of 1.45 with 48kms left.
Eighteen kilometres later on a cloudy day and plenty of locals on the road side, the gap was down to 1.19.
Blikra took the third sprint before Stake Laengen and Hafsas took off and were ahead going through Harstad with an eight kilometre lap remaining and a sixteen second lead.
Hafsas dropped back to the peloton as Laengen pressed on before reeled in with 5.6kms to go.
With three kilometres left, Astana sent a rider in Konichev, up the road whilst Irishman Sam Bennett of Bora Argon 18 was in the front section of the peloton.
Astana had their rider caught and Katusha were on the front going under the flam rouge.
Gerard Ciolek of MTN Qhubeka went trying to set up Edvald Boasson-Hagen but on the right was Katusha's Alexander Kristoff who took the win and recorded his 19th victory of the season in 4.58.36 with Edvald Boasson-Hagen second and Sam Bennett in third.
"Great to win again," said Kristoff. "I did not win all summer so It was great to win, It was difficult with five men but it was good to win."