Thomas Silva continues to win and impress in this 2026. Responding brilliantly to the attack launched by Lennert Van Eetvelt (second place) in the final hundreds of meters, the Uruguayan from XDS Astana conquered the third stage of the Arctic Race of Norway 2026, the Stokmarknes-Storheia of 146 kilometers, thus taking the lead in the general classification.

Behind him and the Belgian from Lotto Intermarchè, an excellent third place for Alessandro Pinarello who on a difficult day for him and NSN delivered an outstanding performance.

THE RACE

After leaving Stokmarknes, five men immediately break away without any opposition from the main group. In a short time, therefore, Eirik Vang Aas (Team Drali-Repsol), Thomas Eriksen (Lillehammer CK), Aksel Laforce (Team Ringerike), Axel Källberg and Morten Wang Baksaas (Lucky Sport Cycling Team) put more than a minute between themselves and the group, arriving in this way to compete for the points available at the two passages of the Storvatnet climb won first by Vang Aas and second by Källberg.

Meanwhile, behind them, Pinarello Q36.5, XDS Astana and, in second place, also Modern Adventure control the situation at a distance, preventing the peloton's gap from acquiring too large proportions in the following kilometers. Understanding they don't have much room, 70 kilometers from the finish the two contenders for the northern "aurora" jersey Vang Aas and Baksaas slip away from the head of the race, leaving to their fate (and with 1'10" on the pursuers) Eriksen, Laforce and Källberg.

The trio, never with an advantage greater than 1'45", resists stubbornly at the front until 4.6 km from the finish when, just before tackling the terrible final climb towards Storheia, the group's chase proves successful, bringing back into the ranks even the last of the breakaways (Källberg) still in the lead.

On the steep ramps of the final climb, waiting and selection from behind take center stage (marred by the pace imposed first by TotalEnergies and then by Picnic PostNL), so much so that at the last kilometer there are still ten riders harboring dreams of glory.

To see someone shake up the cards, however, you have to wait another 600 meters when Van Eetvelt attacks decisively, dropping everyone except Silva. The Uruguayan, after a few meters, launches a sharp counterattack and the move proves winning because, despite a slight fade in the final meters accompanied by Van Eetvelt's desperate comeback, he is the one to cross the finish line in first position.

The victory, his eleventh as a professional and his seventh of a superb 2026, also brings him the new yellow jersey as race leader, which now sees him commanding with 10" over Van Eetvelt, 21" over an excellent Alessandro Pinarello, 25" over Robbe Dhondt (Picnic PostNL) and 31" over Felix Engelhardt (Jayco AlUla). These gaps, by controlling the situation tomorrow in the Sortland-Narvik stage of 190 km with finish on the short climb towards the 2029 Alpine Skiing World Championships site, could secure him a second stage race victory of the season.

FINISHING ORDER

1. Thomas Silva (URU/XDS Astana) - 3:29:11

2. Lennert van Eetvelt (BEL/Lotto Intermarchè) - s.t.

3. Alessandro Pinarello (ITA/NSN Cycling) at 0:09

4. Robbe Dhondt (BEL/Picnic PostNL) at 0:09

5. Felix Engelhardt (GER/Jayco AlUla) at 0:15

6. Sebastian Berwick (AUS/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) at 0:16

7. Thomas Bonnet (FRA/TotalEnergies) at 0:19

8. Wouter Poels (NED/Unibet Rose Rockets) at 0:20

9. Joris Delbove (FRA/TotalEnergies) at 0:24

10. Fabio Christen (SUI/Pinarello Q36.5) at 0:26

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Thomas Silva (URU/XDS Astana) - 11:31:07

2. Lennert van Eetvelt (BEL/Lotto Intermarchè) at 0:10

3. Alessandro Pinarello (ITA/NSN Cycling) at 0:21

4. Robbe Dhondt (BEL/Picnic PostNL) at 0:25

5. Felix Engelhardt (GER/Jayco AlUla) at 0:31

6. Sebastian Berwick (AUS/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) at 0:32

7. Thomas Bonnet (FRA/TotalEnergies) at 0:35

8. Wouter Poels (NED/Unibet Rose Rockets) at 0:36

9. Joris Delbove (FRA/TotalEnergies) at 0:40

10. Fabio Christen (SUI/Pinarello Q36.5) at 0:42

OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS

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

Mountain classification: Morten Wang Baksaas (NOR/Lucky Sport Cycling Team)

Best young rider classification: Thomas Silva (URU/XDS Astana)

Photo credit: ARN/Thomas Maheux