The four-day stage race takes place in the homeland of main sponsor Visma. Four long and tough stages await the peloton. In addition to three hilly stages, there will be an uphill finish for the first time since the first edition of this race. Stage three starts in Drammen and ends with a climb to the Norefjell ski area. The total stage has an altitude difference of over 2,700 metres, but the biggest difference will be made in the last ten kilometres of the final where the gradient averages ten percent.
Henderson won both stages and the general classification during the Tour de Belle. With her first professional wins on her palmares, the British rider is eager to get started in this Norwegian stage race. “I am really looking forward to it. I can see we are in really good shape physically and mentally as a team. I’m looking forward to competing with the team for even bigger results. I am confident that each of us can go for the win in Norway.”
That also applies to Koster. During the Tour de Belle the Frisian rider showed her good form. After several attacks Koster finished third in the first stage and in the final classification. The 27-year-old rider is looking forward to continue her good form. “I have ridden this race many times. I love coming here. It is always a beautiful race with a few tough climbs. I’m looking forward to putting in a good performance with the team.”
“Last week we gained a lot of confidence in Kreiz-Breizh”, sports director Lieselot Decroix adds. “Especially Anna and Anouska performed very well. They will therefore go to Norway as team leaders. Our focus is on the individual stages. We want to do as well as possible there. Especially Anna and Anouska will be our frontrunners there, but we want to race aggressively with the other riders as well. To take chances and create chances for stage victories. On the different courses that we will meet in four days, there will be a chance for everyone.”
Besides Henderson and Koster, the selection led by Decroix consists of Julie Van de Velde, Nancy van der Burg, Riejanne Markus and Amber Kraak.