For the first time in Tour of Norway’s history, Sola will host both the start and finish of a stage. Last year, Stage 3 started at Vår Energi Arena Sola before heading to Egersund, where Jordi Meeus took the victory. This year, both the start and finish will be in Sola’s city center.
A bunch sprint is the most likely outcome on the opening day, but the wind-exposed areas along Jærstrendene could create crosswinds and splits in the peloton before returning to Sola. The riders will pass the finish line once before the final sprint, giving them a preview of the finishing stretch before the real showdown after 182 kilometers and 1,818 meters of climbing.
The climbs of Seldalsbakken and Helland will determine who gets to wear the King of the Mountains jersey after the first stage, while sprint points and bonus seconds will be contested at Tjelta.
A huge thanks to Stangeland Maskin, Masiv, Logitrans, Hellestø Bilpaviljongen, Crane Norway, and Coop for making this stage possible!
Download GPX file here