For the first time since the inaugural event nine years ago, Andreas Leknesund won the Norwegian Arctic Race thanks to a daring long-distance attack in Trondheim.

The 23-year-old from the northern Arctic city of Tromsø led the field for two-thirds of Sunday's 159-km final stage, eventually finishing 35 seconds ahead of former race leader Victor Lafaye (Cofidis) to take the overall win.

A lengthy podium ceremony was held after the race, where Leknesund, who took the honors of stage winner, overall winner, and youth class winner, said he was surprised to recover from a disappointing result on stage 3.

"The first three days were not good. Especially yesterday I was disappointed with my legs. So yesterday evening and this morning I just wanted to finish the race and go home," Leknesund told Cycling News.

"At the team meeting today we decided to start easy today after yesterday's disappointment and see how the legs react. Then we'll look at the local laps and see if the feeling improves. So it was definitely not part of the plan, but that's what made it special."

Chased by a strong group in the closing stages of Trondheim, Leknesund eventually crossed the finish line 16 seconds ahead of everyone else, finishing the race 8 and 9 seconds ahead of Hugo Uhl (Israel Premier Tech) in second and Nicolas Consi (Alpecin Desseuninck) in third.

"In my head I was surrendering a bit, but the attack went on for quite a while, so I decided to jump in.

"When the three of us pulled away, it felt like a normal 'TV attack'. But my goal was to do one lap, see the crowd, and make a show. Then I did one lap, then two, then three, then four, and then I won. I really can't believe it."

The win, along with his victory on the hilly second stage of the Tour de Suisse, put him at the top of Lequesne's parma.

He is one of the top young talents in the peloton, and in his second year with Team DSM, he has grown to win his first big race.

"It was really special," he said. 'I was able to win races in Norway, especially in the Arctic Circle. I grew up above the Arctic Circle in Tromsø. I've been watching this race since I was a little girl and I respected the racers. First of all, just to race is something special for me."

"I had friends in the group, friends on the road, family. That was really special and motivating."