Stage 1 of the 2026 Arctic Race of Norway covers 181.9 km from Evenes to Myre along a flat profile, setting the scene for a classic bunch sprint finale in the far north of Norway. As a 2.Pro category stage race opener, teams will be eager to set up their sprinters and claim the first leader's jersey. The remote Arctic setting and potential crosswind exposure could add tactical complexity despite the benign profile.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Kockelmann is the undisputed sprint leader here, holding a Sprint stat of 73 that no one else in this startlist can match. While his recent sprint-profile form (avg 41.4 over five races) leaves room for improvement, his sheer speed rating makes him the default favorite for any bunch gallop into Myre.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Mathieu Kockelmann leads the startlist with the highest Sprint stat of 73, making him the standout pick for this flat stage finishing in Myre. Despite modest recent form (avg pos 41.4 over 5 sprint-profile races), his superior raw sprint rating gives him the edge in a bunch finish scenario.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Berasategi (Sprint 71) and Van Hemelen (Sprint 70, TT 72) form a credible pair of challengers who could each win if Kockelmann is boxed out or the sprint is disrupted. Berasategi has the raw pace while Van Hemelen's superior all-round stats give him an edge in a technical or slightly chaotic finale.
Flanders - Baloise
Flanders - Baloise
Vincent Van Hemelen boasts a Sprint of 70 combined with the highest TT score (72) among the group, suggesting he can stay positioned and time a late effort effectively. His recent form in sprint-profile races has been underwhelming (avg 88.0), but his well-rounded stats make him a genuine contender.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Berasategi carries a Sprint of 71 — second only to Kockelmann — and has the added benefit of Euskaltel-Euskadi team support with multiple sprint-capable colleagues. He has no recent sprint-profile data on record, making him a risk, but his raw stat justifies strong contender status.
★★
Dark Horses
Arvanitou, Nakken, and Martín all sit at Sprint 69-70 and represent the second tier of sprinting threat. Arvanitou's best result of 13th in a sprint-profile race is the most credible recent performance in this group, while Nakken and Martín bring team and profile advantages that could see either sneaking into the top five.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Gotzon Martín has a Sprint of 69 with strong Hills (73) and Climbing (69), meaning he can survive any punchy deviations on the road to Myre and still compete in the finale. Riding alongside Berasategi and Agirre gives Euskaltel-Euskadi real numerical advantage in the sprint.
United Shipping
United Shipping
Nikiforos Arvanitou has a Sprint of 70 and the best recent form among all listed riders, averaging 28th across two sprint-profile races with a best result of 13th. That combination of decent stat and relatively solid recent outings earns him a dark horse slot.
Drali - Repsol
Drali - Repsol
Tobias Nakken holds a Sprint of 69 and no recent sprint-profile data to weigh against him, keeping him as a wildcard with upside. His lower climbing and TT scores suggest he is purely a sprinter's finisher, which suits this flat stage perfectly.
★
Ones to Watch
Bolle, Christophersen, Agirre, and Kessler are genuine outsiders with Sprint stats ranging from 63 to 66. Bolle's average position of 27th is actually the best recent form figure in the entire preview, making him the most intriguing watch among the one-star tier despite his modest ceiling.
VolkerWessels
VolkerWessels
Bert Bolle (Sprint 66) is the best-performing rider in recent sprint-profile races with an average position of 27th, the strongest in-form number on the sheet. Limited sample size (one race) and a lower sprint ceiling keep him at the outsider tier, but he is certainly one to watch.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Cedrik Christophersen carries a Sprint of 65 but notably strong Climbing (70) and Hills (71) scores, suggesting he could be dangerous if the stage develops any selective character. His single sprint-profile race result of 71st is not inspiring, making him a longshot.
Modern Adventure
Modern Adventure
Cole Kessler rounds out the selection with a Sprint of 63 and a balanced profile (Hills 70, TT 67) with no recent sprint-profile results to reference. He is an unknown quantity but provides Modern Adventure with a viable option in a wide-open field.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Jon Agirre has the highest Climbing stat in the field (73) and a Hills score of 73, which is unusual for a sprint-profile pick, but his Sprint of 63 is the lowest among selections. He benefits from strong Euskaltel team support and could surprise if the finish is harder than expected.
Verdict
Mathieu Kockelmann is the clear top favorite on the strength of the field's highest Sprint rating of 73, with Xabier Berasategi and Vincent Van Hemelen as the chief challengers should Kockelmann's Lotto Intermarché team fail to control the race.