Van Asbroeck second as Strong retains Arctic Race of Norway lead
# Van Asbroeck Shines Despite Second Place as Strong Holds onto Arctic Race Lead
In an exhilarating stage 2 of the Arctic Race of Norway, Tom Van Asbroeck secured his best result of 2025, finishing second, while Corbin Strong managed to retain his lead in the overall standings despite facing challenges during the race.
Van Asbroeck’s impressive performance placed him just behind local favorite Alexander Kristoff (UXM), who clinched the stage victory in Sørreisa. Strong, although finishing 28th due to a crash that occurred just ahead of him, was fortunate to avoid falling and remained in contention as the competition heats up.
Kristoff’s win brought him level on time with Strong, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown on Saturday in what is anticipated to be the decisive stage from Husøy to Målselv.
“It was a little bit of a shame, to be honest,” Van Asbroeck remarked. “I was happy with second, but actually I’m more disappointed because we wanted to set up Corbin for another win. I think he would have won if I’m honest. So that’s a little bit of a shame.”
He explained how the situation unfolded, noting, “He was following the wheel, and then one guy came in between us. Then he got caught behind the crash. I got the call on the radio telling me to contest the sprint, otherwise the whole day would be for nothing. So while I’m happy with second, it was honestly bittersweet because we had something else in mind for today.”
Supported by teammates Hugo Houle, Floris Van Tricht, and Nick Schultz, the breakaway riders were kept in check, with the group being reeled back in after a challenging 1.9-kilometer gravel sector.
Despite Strong’s setback in the final moments, Van Asbroeck made the most of the situation and displayed his sprinting prowess. Strong expressed his sentiments, saying, “In the final we just got a bit disjointed, then there was a crash that I was very close to coming down in. Tom managed to get through it – I’m really happy to see him get second. He’s been an incredible teammate for me.”
While Strong doesn’t expect to retain the yellow jersey after the difficult hill-top finish on Saturday, he remains optimistic about the challenge ahead. “I think it’s too hard for me,” he admitted. “It’s four kilometers at 8%, I think. I probably can’t keep up with the likes of Tom Pidcock and Christian Scaroni on a climb like this, but I’m in really good shape, so why not give it a go? It would have been nice to collect a few more bonus seconds today, but I’m looking forward to the challenge tomorrow, regardless.”
As the excitement builds for the upcoming stage, both riders will be keen to showcase their capabilities in this prestigious race.
