Stage 3 of the Arctic Race of Norway covers 146.5 km from Stokmarknes to the Storheia Summit above Melbu, with a hilly profile that culminates in a summit finish — the decisive terrain of the race. At 2.Pro level, the stage rewards riders with strong hills and climbing attributes over pure sprinters or time trialists. The scenic Norwegian setting adds an atmospheric backdrop to what promises to be a tactical and physically demanding day.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Lennert Van Eetvelt stands alone at the top of this preview. His Hills rating of 78 is the highest in the field, his Climbing of 76 confirms he can stay strong to the summit, and his Epic rarity underlines his elite status. No other rider in the startlist combines his raw stats with his card quality for a stage like this.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Lennert Van Eetvelt tops the startlist with the highest Hills rating of 78 and a solid Climbing score of 76, making him the standout card for this summit finish. As an Epic-rarity rider, he has the all-round tools to dominate on the Storheia climb.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Xabier Berasategi and Martin Tjøtta form a strong contender pair. Berasategi's recent form is the best of any rider in this preview — 15.8 average position across 9 hilly races with a best of 5th — while Tjøtta's Hills rating of 75, local knowledge, and Uno-X team support make him a genuine threat on Norwegian roads.
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Martin Tjøtta carries a Hills rating of 75 and the home-race motivation as a Norwegian rider competing on familiar terrain at the Arctic Race. His recent form shows a podium in similar-profile races and he races for the well-organized Uno-X Mobility squad.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Berasategi leads all riders in recent hilly-profile form with an average position of 15.8 across 9 races and a best result of 5th, showing genuine consistency on terrain like this. His Hills rating of 74 is competitive and his form data makes him Van Eetvelt's most credible challenger.
★★
Dark Horses
Anders Foldager leads the dark horse group with two recent podiums and a best of 2nd in hilly races, backed by a Hills rating of 75. Henrik Pedersen is compact but consistent, with a podium and a best of 3rd in similar terrain. Felix Engelhardt rounds out the tier on pure card stats alone, with a 75 Hills and 72 Climbing that fit the stage perfectly.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Anders Foldager posts a Hills rating of 75 and has two podiums and five top-10s in hilly races over the last 90 days, with a best of 2nd — the strongest recent podium record outside the top tier. He is a genuine dark horse for the Storheia summit finish.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Felix Engelhardt shares a Hills rating of 75 and a Climbing score of 72, giving him the profile for a punchy summit finish. While recent form data is limited, his card attributes place him squarely in the dark horse tier.
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Henrik Pedersen has a Hills rating of 70 but punches above his stat weight in form, averaging 29.9 in hilly races with a best of 3rd and a podium to his name. His consistency over 8 races in similar terrain makes him a credible dark horse.
★
Ones to Watch
The outsider group features riders with genuine upside but question marks. Wout Poels has the highest Climbing score among non-favorites at 75 but inconsistent recent form. Johannes Kulset and Jon Agirre fit the terrain profile on their card stats and have multiple hilly-race appearances to draw from. Thomas Silva is the wildcard — two wins in similar races prove his ceiling, even if his average position is suppressed by DNFs and off-days.
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Johannes Kulset has a Hills rating of 74 and a Climbing score of 74, making him well-suited on paper, and he rides for the strong home team Uno-X Mobility. Recent form averages are moderate at 34.6, but his card profile fits this summit finish.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Jon Agirre has a Hills rating of 73 and a Climbing score of 73, and his 12 races in hilly conditions with a best of 7th show he is accustomed to this kind of terrain. He is an intriguing one-to-watch for CycloDraft managers seeking mid-field value.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Thomas Silva carries a Hills rating of 75 and is the only rider in the form table with wins (2) in similar-profile races, along with 3 podiums and 5 top-10s. His average position of 47.0 is inflated by off-days, but his ceiling on hilly terrain is clearly demonstrated.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Wout Poels brings a Hills rating of 74 and a Climbing score of 75 — the highest climbing figure among the non-favorite group — and is confirmed in the startlist via external notes. His average position of 50.8 in recent hilly races is concerning, but his raw ability on climbs keeps him in the mix.
Verdict
Lennert Van Eetvelt is the clear top favorite with the highest Hills rating in the field and the profile of an Epic-rarity all-rounder built for summit finishes like Storheia. Xabier Berasategi and Martin Tjøtta are his most dangerous challengers, backed by the best recent hilly-race form in the startlist.