Tom Pidcock takes the third stage of the Arctic Race of Norway 2025, the Husøy-Målselv of 182 kilometers. Fresh from winning the European mountain bike title in Melgaco (Portugal), the British rider raises his arms to the sky after almost six months since his last road success, getting the better of Corbin Strong (Israel-Premier Tech) who, surprisingly, held his ground against the Q36.5 rider, contesting the victory to the last meters.

Third behind them (and third in the general classification at 23" from Strong, who now has only 6" to defend against Pidcock with one stage to go) is Christian Scaroni (XDS-Astana), who in the last pulsating hundreds of meters tried unsuccessfully to return to the two leaders.

THE CHRONICLE. The uphill start towards the first mountain grand prix of the day at Husøy immediately inspires the breakaway of Storm Ingebrigtsen (Team Coop-Repsol), Georg Martinsen (Lillehammer CK Continental Team), Sebastian Veslum and Morthen Wang Baaksas (Team Norway), with the latter reaching the top to reduce the gap in the climbers' classification by winning the points at stake. Having made the difference on the tough slopes of the inaugural climb, the four continue in good agreement, taking their margin above two minutes and, in the meantime, disputing the intermediate sprint at Mefjordbotneidet (1st Baksaas). Q36.5 of Tom Pidcock then controls the situation at the head of the group, whose pace prevents the disadvantage from taking on dangerous proportions. With a gap that nonetheless exceeds 4 minutes, the breakaway also fights on the mountain grand prix of Bergsbotn and Gangskarberget, both conquered by the usual Baksaas, bringing the Team Norway rider to just one point away from the holder of the "northern lights" jersey Ingebrigtsen.

At this point, with the gap settling for a long time between 3 and 2 minutes, the race sails at a rather low and uneventful average for several kilometers. This allows Baksaas to also improve his position in the points classification (his also the flying finish at Finnsnes) and remain in command until 17 km to go when the group, having significantly approached in the previous ten kilometers, swallows him along with Martinsen and Ingebrigtsen. Veslum instead launches a desperate action but his effort only earns him the most combative prize of the day because the peloton does not give him space, reabsorbing him a couple of kilometers after the last intermediate finish line at 11 km to go (2nd Feldmann, 3rd Scaroni).

The group thus approaches the last 4 kilometers of climb compactly, where first XDS-Astana and then Q36.5 set the pace. However, no one moves until 1300 meters to go when Pidcock opens the gas, bringing with him a sprightly Strong who somehow manages to stay on the British rider's wheel. Within the last kilometer, the pace of the pair slightly drops, and this allows Scaroni from behind to get the two contenders back in his sights, who however, setting up the decisive sprint, repel the Italian. The two-man sprint seems for a moment to favor Strong, but in the last dozen meters Pidcock puts his wheel back in front of the New Zealander's, thus returning to celebrate for the first time on the road since last February 20th.

Behind them, Scaroni closes the day's podium, arriving 12" behind the leading pair and 4" before his teammate Champoussin (4th) and Kevin Vermaerke (PicNic PostNL), fifth.

In the general classification, Pidcock decisively narrows the gap, bringing himself to just 6" from Strong on the eve of the final stage in Tromsø, which, with 9 laps of the hilly city circuit, will definitively decide the final standings.

SCARONI'S WORDS, THIRD AT THE FINISH. "We took the final climb really hard. I knew I could count on a very strong team and, indeed, thanks to three super passists like Ballerini, Bol, and Gate, I managed to attack from the first positions. I was aware, in any case, that on a climb like this, where freshness counts, Pidcock would be very comfortable and, in fact, I confess that I would have preferred a slightly harder course to find somewhat more tired opponents on the final climb. That said, I tried not to blow up when Pidcock started because I knew he would then look at Strong as indeed happened, but despite this, the gap was too wide to get back to them, so much so that when the sprint started, they got away from me again. So I take this third place and we'll see what happens tomorrow. The stage is short, so I expect quite crazy paces and many difficulties in controlling the situation. We will try to maintain our place on the podium and then, who knows, with a certain strategy we might invent something even if Pidcock's team today showed they are very strong. It will be difficult, but we'll try."

FINISH ORDER

1. Thomas Pidcock (GBR/Q36.5) - 4:43:16

2. Corbin Strong (NZL/Israel-Premier Tech) - s.t.

3. Christian Scaroni (ITA/XDS-Astana) at 0:12

4. Clément Champoussin (FRA/XDS-Astana) at 0:16

5. Kevin Vermaerke (USA/Picnic-PostNL) at 0:17

6. Martin Tjotta (NOR/Arkéa-B&B Hotels) at 0:19

7. Felix Engelhardt (GER/Jayco-AlUla) at 0:21

8. Riley Sheehan (USA/Israel-Premier Tech) at 0:21

9. Alan Hatherly (RSA/Jayco-AlUla) at 0:21

10. Hugo Houle (CAN/Israel-Premier Tech) at 0:21

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Corbin Strong (NZL/Israel-Premier Tech) - 12:40:30

2. Thomas Pidcock (GBR/Q36.5) at 0:06

3. Christian Scaroni (ITA/XDS-Astana) at 0:23

4. Riley Sheehan (USA/Israel-Premier Tech) at 0:31

5. Clément Champoussin (FRA/XDS-Astana) at 0:32

6. Kevin Vermaerke (USA/Picnic-PostNL) at 0:33

7. Martin Tjotta (NOR/Arkéa-B&B Hotels) at 0:35

8. Felix Engelhardt (GER/Jayco-AlUla) at 0:37

9. Hugo Houle (CAN/Israel-Premier Tech) at 0:37

10. Sven Erik Bystrom (NOR/Team Norway) at 0:37

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Corbin Strong (NZL/Israel-Premier Tech)

Mountain Classification: Storm Ingebrigtsen (NOR/Team Coop-Repsol)

Young Rider Classification: Corbin Strong (NZL/Israel-Premier Tech)

Team Classification: Israel-Premier Tech