Kristoff Triumphs In Norway With Stage Win And Leaders Jersey

In what was a dominant sprint display, Kristoff powered home to claim UAE Team Emirates 15th win of the season (@tourofnorway)
Stage 5 took the riders from  Skien to Drammen over 159.7 km, which Kristoff led home ahead of Alvaro Hodeg (Deceunick-Quick Step) and Kristoffer Halvorsen (Team Ineos).

Today’s success has propelled Kristoff to the top of the overall race standings, with an advantage of one second over Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) and two seconds over Edoardo Affini (Mitchelton-Scott).

Tomorrow’s stage will be the climax of the race and the overall victor will be crowned, with the riders making their way from Gran to Hønefoss over 175.1 km that includes a 1st category climb (4.3 km to 4.3%) just 11.5 km from the finish line.

The sprint was dominated by the UAE Team Emirates rider, who timed his sprint perfectly.

Kristoff : “At 20 km to the finish line, there was a split in the group but the team brought me back, just in time to get the lead-out formation right for the sprint.
I started the sprint in the leading positions, and the legs felt good:I’m really happy with the win and to get the yellow jersey is an added bonus.
Tomorrow we will try to defend the jersey, it won’t be easy, but we will give it our best shot.
I’d like to thank my teammates because they have been fantastic, especially on the climbs and getting me through some of the sketchy moments in the bunch“.

Stage 5 results
1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates 3h39’44”
2 Alvaro Hodeg (Col) Deceuninck-Quick Step s.t.
3 Kristoffer Halvorsen (Nor) Team Ineos s.t.

General classification after stage 5
1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates 21h17’22”
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 1″
3 Edoardo Affini (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott 2″