The Arctic Race of Norway General Classification is a 2.Pro hilly stage race finishing on a hill finish, perfectly suited to punchy climbers and all-rounders rather than pure mountain goats. The race traditionally features technical Norwegian terrain with short, sharp climbs that reward riders with high Hills and Climbing scores. With no time trial element and a hill-top finish, the GC will likely be decided in the closing kilometres of the final stage.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Lennert Van Eetvelt is the obvious pick at the top of the market. His Hills rating of 78 is the highest in the startlist, his Climbing score sits at 76, and as an Epic-rarity card he represents genuine elite quality. No other rider in this field matches his combination of raw stats and upside on a hilly GC profile.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Lennert Van Eetvelt leads the field with the highest Hills rating of 78 and a solid Climbing score of 76, making him the standout card for this hilly GC race. His Epic rarity reflects his ceiling as a genuine contender on punchy terrain.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Wout Poels and Xabier Berasategi form a strong second tier. Poels's Climbing score of 75 is the joint-best in the race and he has the experience to manage a multi-day GC. Berasategi's recent form is simply the best in the field — nine hilly races, a 15.8 average position, and a top-5 — making him a serious threat despite a slightly lower raw stat.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Wout Poels combines a Hills rating of 74 with an excellent Climbing score of 75, one of the best climbing numbers in the field. The veteran Unibet Rose rider is confirmed for the race and thrives on hilly GC formats.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Berasategi is the standout performer in recent similar-profile races, averaging 15.8 across 9 hilly races with a best finish of 5th — the best form data in the entire startlist. His Hills rating of 74 supports his results.
★★
Dark Horses
Felix Engelhardt, Bjoern Koerdt, and Alessandro Covi all occupy the dark horse tier. Engelhardt and Covi benefit from strong Jayco AlUla team support, while Koerdt's seven-race form sample with a best of 5th shows he can genuinely compete on these profiles. All three carry Hills ratings of 74–75.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Alessandro Covi holds a Hills rating of 74 with a Climbing score of 70 and arrives confirmed for the race. His experience at the 2.Pro level and Jayco AlUla's strong squad make him a credible dark horse.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Bjoern Koerdt averages 19.4 in recent hilly races with a best finish of 5th, showing consistent form. His Hills rating of 74 is competitive and his seven-race sample gives confidence in these results.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Felix Engelhardt posts a Hills score of 75 with a respectable Sprint of 69, giving him versatility on hilly finishes. Jayco AlUla brings team support alongside Covi and Foldager, improving his GC chances.
★
Ones to Watch
Damien Howson, Anders Foldager, Thomas Silva, and Ådne Holter round out the selection as ones to watch. Howson's climbing numbers are elite but his form data is limited. Foldager has multiple podiums in recent form. Silva's two wins in similar races are eye-catching. Holter is a motivated local rider backed by a well-organised Norwegian team.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Anders Foldager has posted 2 podiums and 5 top-10s in similar hilly races recently, averaging 37.7 — strong depth of results for a rider at this level. His Hills score of 75 is well above average.
Pinarello-Q36.5
Pinarello-Q36.5
Damien Howson brings a Hills and Climbing score of 75 each, among the best climbing numbers in the race. Confirmed for the start, he could surprise if Pinarello-Q36.5 sets him up for GC.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Thomas Silva has recorded 2 wins and 3 podiums in similar-profile races over the last 90 days, the best win tally in the field's form data. His Hills rating of 75 backs up the results.
Uno-X Mobility
Uno-X Mobility
Ådne Holter is a home-nation wildcard confirmed for the race, with a Hills score of 74 and local knowledge of Norwegian terrain. Uno-X Mobility's strong team presence adds tactical flexibility.
Verdict
Lennert Van Eetvelt is the clear favourite thanks to the field's top Hills rating of 78 and strong Climbing numbers, with Xabier Berasategi and Wout Poels the most dangerous challengers based on form and climbing ability respectively.