Mie Bjørndal Ottestad delivered a rousing performance on home roads to win the 2025 Tour of Norway Women, capping the two-day race with a decisive solo move on the final lap in Stavanger. The Norwegian national champion launched her attack with 25km to go, overtook lone leader Daniek Hengeveld, and stayed clear to take both the stage win and the overall title in front of jubilant local fans.
Starting the day 21 seconds down in seventh overall, Ottestad’s audacious effort paid off handsomely. She crested the final ascent of the short, sharp Grisabakken climb with over 50 seconds in hand and held that gap to the line. Race leader Justine Ghekiere, who had won stage 1 in Egersund, could only manage sixth on the stage and slipped to second overall.
Early action and Hengeveld’s lone break
The 108km stage around Stavanger featured five laps of a punchy circuit with the steep Grisabakken climb – 300 metres at 9% – providing repeated opportunities to split the field. AG Insurance-Soudal set a fierce tempo from the outset to defend Ghekiere’s orange jersey, but a crash on the opening lap already thinned the peloton.
After multiple splits and reshuffles, Daniek Hengeveld of Ceratizit broke away solo with around 60km to go. She quickly opened up a lead of nearly two minutes, becoming the virtual race leader. Maud Rijnbeek from VolkerWessels tried to join her but found herself in no-man’s-land and eventually sat up.
Behind, Viktória Chladoňová from Visma – Lease a Bike and Ottestad joined forces in pursuit. Chladoňová’s effort faded on the fourth ascent of Grisabakken, but Ottestad surged ahead alone, catching and dropping Hengeveld before the bell lap.
Uno-X Mobility seals dominant day
Ottestad powered into the final 7km with a lead of just under a minute, and even as Ghekiere’s teammates and Visma drove the chase behind, the gap proved unbridgeable. Ottestad, wearing the Norwegian national champion’s kit, swept through the technical finale to cross the line in Vågen with arms aloft, 50 seconds ahead of the chasers.
Her Uno-X Mobility teammate Susanne Andersen won the sprint for second, with Margot Vanpachtenbeke of VolkerWessels third. Lauren Dickson, racing for Handsling-Alba Development, finished safely in the front group and secured third place in the final GC, just behind Ghekiere.
“It means so much to win this race on home soil, and to do it like that,” Ottestad said after the finish. “I knew the time gaps were small and I had nothing to lose by trying.”
Visma’s youth reward and promising Dutch displays
Team Visma | Lease a Bike had plenty to celebrate despite missing out on the overall. Viktória Chladoňová took home the best young rider jersey after another strong showing. “From the start it was very hectic with several attacks. At one point I rode away together with Ottestad,” said Chladoňová. “On the climb I couldn’t follow her, but I think we did very well as a team.”
Eva van Agt was another standout, finishing fifth overall and working hard throughout both stages. Meanwhile, Margaux Vigié sprinted to fourth on the stage, adding another result to her strong spring campaign.
While Ghekiere narrowly missed out on the win, her form is clearly sharp heading into the next part of the season. Ottestad’s triumph, however, will be remembered as a career-defining day on home roads, and as a statement win for Uno-X Mobility.
2025 Tour of Norway Women Stage 2 result
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2025 Tour of Norway Women GC result
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Main photo credit: Tour of Norway Women
