Ben Hermans (BMC Racing) turned in a gutsy performance to win the mountaintop finish at the Arctic Race of Norway on stage 3 in Målselv.
The Belgian, who came into the race as the red-hot favourite, attacked with less than 1,000 metres to go on the final climb, catching and passing Rein Taaramäe (Astana Pro Team) with the finishline in sight.
Hermans now leads the race by seven seconds from Taaramäe with home favourite Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN – Qhubeka) third at 24 seconds. Overnight leader Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) fought to stay with the leaders on the summit finish but was dropped with three kilometres to go. The Norwegian remains in control of the points jersey with one stage remaining.
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However, the stage to Målselv belonged to Hermans, who allowed Taaramäe to open gaps twice on the final climb. On the first occasions Hermans used his team to close the gap, and when Taaramäe attacked again with two kilometres remaining, the Belgian allowed his Estonian rival to toil into a headwind before closing the gap inside of the final 1,000 metres.
“I was always about 100 metres back from him but I knew that there was a headwind. I could jump across with 1.5km to go but I thought I’d explode so I waited in the wheels of my teammates and then at the last kilometre there was a tailwind and I attacked. I thought that I might crack but I had to go if I wanted to win,” Hermans said at the finish.
“This is amazing because you know that if you win you take the 10 seconds bonus and the jersey. That’s incredible."
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