Giovanni Lonardi wins opening Arctic Race stage

Italian rider Giovanni Lonardi won the first stage of this year’s Arctic Race of Norway, NRK reported. The 29-year-old, who rides for Team Polti VisitMalta, won the sprint in central Myre to take the leader’s jersey.

The stage ran from Evenes to Myre in Vesterålen. Uno-X rider Erlend Blikra led into the sprint but was overtaken in the final metres, finishing fourth as the best-placed Norwegian cyclist.

The second stage will start in Bø in Vesterålen and finish in Andenes.