The Arctic Race of Norway 2026 opens under the sign of Italy and Giovanni Lonardi. With a sprint that left no room for replies, the sprinter from Polti VisitMalta conquered the Evenes-Myre stage of 181.9 kilometers, finishing ahead of Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies) and Riley Pickrell (Modern Adventure).

For the 1996-born sprinter, who crossed the finish line for the first time since the Tour of Istanbul in September 2025, came also the first yellow jersey of a race that tomorrow will offer a new opportunity for him and the fast wheels with the Bø i Vesterålen-Andenes stage of 180 kilometers.

THE RACE

As expected, right from the start several riders attempt to break away. After about twenty kilometers, Victor Vercouille (Team Flanders-Baloise), Eirik Vang Aas (Team Drali-Repsol), Henrik Teslo Fjellheim (Lillehammer CK), Ludvik Holstad (Team Ringerike) and Morthen Wang Baksaas (Lucky Sport Cycling Team) manage to escape, quickly building a three-minute advantage over the peloton. With this margin remaining stable for some time due to the distant control exercised by the chasers, the five leaders have no problems competing for the first (1st Baksaas) and second mountain prize of the day (1st Vang Aas) before on the third, breaking away from the now close group behind, the duo from Lucky Sport Cycling Team Axel Källberg-Teodor De Luca rejoin them.

Also thanks to the support of their two teammates, Baksaas manages to prevail over Vang at the top of the Storeidet mountain prize, after which, with fresh forces within the group, the escape regains momentum for a few kilometers. Reaching a 40-second advantage, however, Jayco AlUla, Uno-X Mobility and Modern Adventure decide to change pace and this brings the group, once they pass through the finish line for the first time and begin the final 6.2-kilometer circuit, to close on the escapees at three thousand meters from the finish.

As expected, therefore, it comes down to a sprint where, perfectly led by his teammates and attacking at the right moment, Lonardi finds a way to leave everyone behind and return to celebrating after 341 days, as his last success dated back to September 6th of last year at the Tour of Istanbul. He thus reaches six victories (twelve counting also the .2 races) in his career tally as a sprinter, becoming today the fourth Italian winner in the history of the Arctic Race of Norway after Gianni Moscon (2016), Alberto Dainese and Michele Gazzoli (both in 2023).

Four, with today's victory, are also the seasonal wins for Polti VisitMalta which before Lonardi's success had celebrated this year the victories of Ludovico Crescioli at the Giro dell'Appenino, Andrea Mifsud (important today in containing the escape) at the Maltese road championship and Gabriele Bessega at the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai last month.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Giovanni Lonardi (ITA/Polti-VisitMalta) - 4:05:23

2. Jason Tesson (FRA/TotalEnergies) - s.t.

3. Riley Pickrell (CAN/Modern Adventure) - s.t.

4. Erlend Blikra (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) - s.t.

5. Ethan Vernon (GBR/NSN Cycling) - s.t.

6. Nikiforos Arvanitou (GRE/XDS-Astana) - s.t.

7. Lionel Taminiaux (BEL/Lotto-Intermarché) - s.t.

8. Mathieu Kockelmann (LUS/Lotto-Intermarché) - s.t.

9. Vilmer Ekman (SVE/Lucky Sport Cycling) - s.t.

10. Emils Liepins (LET/Pinarello-Q36.5) - s.t.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Giovanni Lonardi (ITA/Polti-VisitMalta) - 4:05:13

2. Jason Tesson (FRA/TotalEnergies) at 0:04

3. Riley Pickrell (CAN/Modern Adventure) at 0:06

4. Erlend Blikra (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) at 0:10

5. Ethan Vernon (GBR/NSN Cycling) at 0:10

6. Nikiforos Arvanitou (GRE/XDS-Astana) at 0:10

7. Lionel Taminiaux (BEL/Lotto-Intermarché) at 0:10

8. Mathieu Kockelmann (LUS/Lotto-Intermarché) at 0:10

9. Vilmer Ekman (SVE/Lucky Sport Cycling) at 0:10

10. Emils Liepins (LET/Pinarello-Q36.5) at 0:10

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

Points Classification: Giovanni Lonardi (ITA/Polti-VisitMalta)

Mountain Prize Classification: Morthen Wang Baksaas (NOR/Lucky Sport Cycling Team)

Best Young Rider Classification: Teodor De Luca (SVE/Lucky Sport Cycling Team)

Photo credit: ARN/Thomas Maheux