Cees Bol wins the first stage in Egersund!
The 23-year-old sprinter from Team Sunweb raised his hands for the third time of the season. He crossed the line in front of Eduard Grosu and Alexander Kristoff.
Soon after leaving Hinna Park in Stavanger, four riders managed to escape and form a breakaway. Three Norwegian teams were represented with Jacob Eriksson for Team Coop, Fridtjof Røinås for Joker Fuel of Norway and Torstein Traaen for Uno-X Norwegian Development Team. The fourth rider in the break was Elmar Reinders from Roompot-Charles.
The first intermediate sprint happened after 30,5km of racing and it is Fridtjof Røinås who took full points. Eight kilometers later was the first KOM of the day and Fridtjof Røinås once again crossed the line first. Not satisfied, he managed to do it again at the second KOM of the day in Gloppedalsura securing the polka dot jersey.
The gap between the breakaway and the peloton reached 7 minutes in the first part of the stage but gradually went down with Deceunick – Quick-step assuming the chase helped by Team Dimension Data and then Team Ineos in the last 10 kilometers. Fridtjof Røinås was the first one to drop from the breakaway with 10 kilometers to go. He was followed a few kilometers later by Jacob Eriksson. The two remaining riders got caught with 3km to go.
We were then heading to a front wind bunch sprint. Cees Bol waited until the last moment to launch his sprint to pass Alexander Kristoff and take the win as well as the Uno X Yellow Jersey!
Results: https://tourofnorway.no/gb/pro-race/rankings/525/1-etappe