Israel – Premier Tech Targets Repeat Victory at Arctic Race of Norway
Israel – Premier Tech is gearing up for the Arctic Race of Norway with a strong team aiming to secure another overall victory at the prestigious race. Last year, Ben Hermans claimed the win for the team with an outstanding performance, and they are determined to replicate their success this year.
Leading the IPT lineup is Norwegian rider Carl Fredrik Hagen, who is excited to compete in his home country. Hagen expressed his anticipation, saying, “This is a special race compared to many others, and I’m really looking forward to getting started and racing in my home country.”
Hagen emphasized the importance of the final stages for the general classification, stating, “The last two stages will be the most crucial ones for the general classification, and luckily, I know the final climb on stage 3 as I did recon earlier this year. The weather forecast doesn’t look too good, but I’m used to racing in the cold, so maybe that can give me a mental advantage. In any case, I feel the shape is coming along nicely right now, and we have a really strong team here ready to fight for a top result.”
Sports director Nicki Sørensen echoed Hagen’s sentiments, expressing confidence in the team’s capabilities, saying, “We line up for Arctic Race of Norway with a strong team, believing we can do a really good race. We have several riders capable of doing well here, and we hope that will help us achieve some great results.”
Joining Hagen in the Israel – Premier Tech lineup are former overall podium finisher Krists Neilands, Sebastian Berwick, Cole Kessler, and both of their stage winners from the recent Tour de France, Simon Clarke and Hugo Houle.
Houle, who finished fifth overall in his last participation in the Arctic Race of Norway, shared his excitement about returning to Norway, saying, “I’m happy to be going back to Norway. I like the country and I like the vibe there. It feels a bit like home in Canada, with the nature and the lakes, so I’m really happy to be there.” He expressed his confidence after a successful Tour de France and his eagerness to compete, adding, “Personally, I feel pretty good after the Tour de France, and I want to do a good race. I have good memories from the past editions, and I’m really looking forward to racing again. We have a strong team here, so let’s see what we can do.”
The Arctic Race of Norway will take place from August 11 to 14, and Israel – Premier Tech is determined to make their mark once again in the competition.
