Stage 4 of the Arctic Race of Norway covers 190.5 km from Sortland to Narvik with a hilly profile and an uphill finish, making it the queen stage for punchy climbers and hill specialists. The Norwegian terrain typically features short, sharp ascents that reward riders with strong Hills and Climbing ratings rather than pure mountain goats. With the overall classification likely on the line, team tactics and positioning in the final kilometers will be crucial.
★★★★
Topfavoriet
Lennert Van Eetvelt is the standout favourite with a Hills rating of 78 — the best in the field — backed by Climbing of 76 and an Epic rarity card. No other rider combines raw profile suitability with his level of upside for a hilly Norwegian stage finish.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Lennert Van Eetvelt leads the field with the highest Hills stat (78) and strong Climbing (76), making him the standout pick for this hilly finish into Narvik. His Epic rarity and well-rounded profile give Lotto Intermarché a clear protected leader for the stage.
★★★
Sterke Kanshebbers
Wout Poels and Xabier Berasategi form a compelling duo of strong contenders. Poels brings elite Climbing (75) to complement his Hills score (74), while Berasategi leads all riders in recent hilly-race form with a 15.8 average position and four top-10s in the past 90 days.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Wout Poels pairs a Hills rating of 74 with elite Climbing (75), a combination that suits the Norwegian terrain perfectly. A seasoned campaigner on punchy hill finishes, he is one of the most dangerous riders in the peloton on a day like this.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Berasategi is the standout form rider in this field, averaging 15.8 across nine hilly-profile races in the last 90 days with a best result of 5th. His Hills stat of 74 is solid, and his consistent top-10 presence (4 times) makes him a genuine podium threat.
★★
Buitenbeentjes
Felix Engelhardt, Bjoern Koerdt, and Thomas Silva are credible dark horses. Engelhardt and Silva both carry Hills ratings of 75, while Silva's recent results — 2 wins, 3 podiums — are the most impressive win record in the form table for hilly profiles.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Bjoern Koerdt averages 19.4 in hilly races over the past 90 days with a best of 5th, showing genuine competitiveness despite modest Hills (74) and Climbing (71) ratings. His repeated appearances in similar races give him race-reading experience that could pay dividends.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Felix Engelhardt holds a Hills rating of 75 and boasts a useful Sprint score (69) to close out a reduced group on a hilltop finish. Jayco AlUla fields multiple cards here and Engelhardt is their sharpest option for a hilly stage.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Thomas Silva carries a Hills stat of 75 and has delivered 2 wins, 3 podiums, and 5 top-10s in hilly-profile races recently — the best win tally of any rider in the form table. That track record of converting in the right races makes him a credible dark horse.
★
Om in de Gaten te Houden
Damien Howson and Martin Tjøtta offer elite Hills stats (75 each) but limited recent form data to back them up, making them intriguing but uncertain picks. Alessandro Covi and Anders Foldager round out the group, with Foldager's 2 recent podiums in hilly races giving him particular appeal as an outsider to watch.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Alessandro Covi brings a Hills stat of 74, solid Climbing (70), and a useful Sprint (72) that could decide a small-group sprint at the top. Jayco AlUla's depth means he may be used in service, but he is capable of a top-10 if given freedom.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Anders Foldager has recorded 2 podiums and 5 top-10s in hilly races recently, the best podium tally among riders outside the top stat tier. His Hills rating of 75 supports the results, and he is an intriguing one-to-watch for CycloDraft managers.
Pinarello-Q36.5
Pinarello-Q36.5
Damien Howson matches the 75 Hills rating and adds a strong Climbing score (75), giving him the physical tools to follow the best on the final ascent. He lacks recent form data here but his profile is tailor-made for a finish of this type.
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Martin Tjøtta is the home-nation wildcard, carrying a Hills stat of 75 on terrain he knows well as an Uno-X Mobility rider racing in Norway. Local knowledge and team support could help him exceed his relatively modest recent form data.
Verdict
Lennert Van Eetvelt is the clear favourite thanks to the field's highest Hills stat and elite Climbing, with Xabier Berasategi — the form rider of the group — and Wout Poels his most dangerous challengers on the road to Narvik.