The Arctic Race of Norway celebrated its fourth edition in 2016. This year, the UCI 2.HC race ran between August 11th and 14th, with four stages. Italian rider Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) took the overall title.
The 727.5km race is one of the few professional races in the world to venture into the Arctic Circle. Stage 1 began in the town of Fauske, heading 176.5km along the coastline to finish in Rognan. UCI WorldTour rider Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) took the stage and the leader's jersey, outkicking John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) and Danny van Poppel (Team Sky). On the 198.5km stage 2, it was van Poppel who took the win and the overall lead. Moscon took the overall lead from his team mate on stage three (160km) with an 11 second solo victory. He maintained his lead after the final 190km stage, won by Degenkolb in a field sprint.
2016 Final Standings
1. Gianni Moscon (ITA) Team Sky 17:13:57 2. Stef Clement (FRA) IAM Cycling at 0:15 3. Oscar Gatto (ITA) Tinkoff 0:30 4. Martin Elmiger (SUI) IAM Cycling 0:34 5. Odd Christian Eiking (NOR) s.t.
2016 Jersey Winners
Overall Leader Jersey - Gianni Moscon (ITA) Team Sky Climber Jersey - Tom van Asbroeck (BEL) Team Lotto NL - Jumbo Sprint Jersey - John Degenkolb (GER) Giant-Alpecin Best Young Rider - Gianni Moscon (ITA) Team Sky Overall Team Classification - Team Sky
Individual Rankings
UCI Africa Tour - Issak Tesfom Okubamariam (ERI) UCI America Tour - Greg van Avermaet (BEL) UCI Asia Tour - King Lok Cheung (HKG) UCI Europe Tour - Baptiste Planckaert (BEL) UCI Oceania Tour - Sean Lake (AUS)
Team Rankings
UCI Africa Tour - Nasr Dubai (UAE) UCI America Tour - Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis (USA) UCI Asia Tour - Tabriz Shahrdari Team (IRI) UCI Europe Tour - Direct Energie (FRA) UCI Oceania Tour - Avanti Isowhey Sport (AUS)
Nation Rankings
UCI Africa Tour - Eritrea UCI America Tour - USA UCI Asia Tour - Iran UCI Europe Tour - Belgium UCI Oceania Tour - Australia
Eritrean rider Issak Tesfom Okubamariam rides for the UCI Continental Team, Sharjah Team, and has led the rankings on the UCI Africa Tour for the last two months.
This year, he won his second African Continental Championship in the road race, and his first time trial title at the same championships. Issak Tesfom Okubamariam had previously won the African Continental Championships road race in 2013. Other results include winning the Climber's Jersey at the Tour Internationale d'Oranie (UCI 2.2), plus finishing ninth overall. He was also sixth overall in the Tour International de Blida (UCI 2.2) and won the Massawa Circuit (UCI 1.2).
Principal results
2016 1st - African Continental Championship road race 1st - African Continental Championship time trial 4th - La Tropicale Amissa Bongo (overall) 1st - Massawa Circuit 1st - Mountain Classification, Tour Internationale d'Oranie
2015 2nd - Mountain Classification, Tour of Rwanda 2nd - National Road Championships 2nd - Mountain Classification, La Tropicale Amissa Bongo 3rd - Mountain Classification, Tour du Maroc