Bardufoss is located in the Målselvdalen valley near the confluence of the Barduelva and Målselva rivers. It is located about 82 kilometres north of the city of Narvik and about 70 kilometres south of the city of Tromsø.
The race starts at Bardufoss Airport and on the journey towards Tromsø the riders will pass some small towns like Olsborg, Nordkjosbotn and Laksvatn. When the peloton arrives in Laksvatn, they ha...
Read moreBardufoss is located in the Målselvdalen valley near the confluence of the Barduelva and Målselva rivers. It is located about 82 kilometres north of the city of Narvik and about 70 kilometres south of the city of Tromsø.
The race starts at Bardufoss Airport and on the journey towards Tromsø the riders will pass some small towns like Olsborg, Nordkjosbotn and Laksvatn. When the peloton arrives in Laksvatn, they have cycled 83km since they left Bardufoss. The last 49km will be important for the sprinters to keep there position in the peloton. In the valley from Laksvatn to Sørbotn, the riders will be protected from the wind. But from Sørbotn the riders have to face the strong winds coming in from the North Sea.
The course follow the coast line to Ishavskatedralen (The Arctic Cathedral). The church is probably the most famous landmark in Tromsø. From Ishavskatedralen the riders still left in the peloton will cross Tromsøbrua (Tromsø Bridge) over to Tromsøya, where the city of Tromsø is located. Tromsøbrua crosses the Tromsøysundet strait between Tromsdalen on the mainland and the island of Tromsøya. The 1,036-metre long bridge has 58 spans, of which the longest is 80 metres with a maximum clearance to the sea of 38 metres.
Inside the city center of Tromsø there are two short but steep slope that have to be climbed during the final kilometers. Prestevannbakken (1.2 km with an average grade of 7.5%) and Røstbakken (1.1 km with an average grade of 7.5%). A fast-paced descent of three kilometers leading the riders from the last hill and down to the finish in Tromsø. If the sprint teams dont pay attention here, the winner might be a break away win.
