BMC'S Thor Hushovd won the second stage of the Arctic Race Of Norway.
Stage two was a 156km stage which started Svolvær and after crossing Vestvågøya and a finish line in the capital of Lofoten - Svolvær.
Englishman Russell Downing of the NetApp team, who went into the stage 17.49 down, was one of six riders including Helven and Wilson to get away and amid beautfiul scenary, they were 2.11 ahead of the peloton with 57kms to go.
Ten kilometres, there was a touch of wheels in the peloton and a number of rider went down including Dominic Nerz who went down the back and into the sea. Thankfully, he was soon back on his bike.
Sander Helven took the points for the sprint with just over 40kms to go as the gap stayed at 1.23 on a nippy but sunny day.
With 13.8kms to go, there was another crash with Lars Peter Nordaug and Ramon Sinckeldam and three Europcar riders including Jerome Vincent.all going down, not helped by a motorbike coming out of a tunnel at the same time as the riders.
Two kilometres on and with the peloton which featured yesterday's opening stage winner Kenny Van Hummel, eighteen seconds ahead, Downing shot off followed by Max Emil Korner and Michael Olsson, the Swedish champion.
With 7.2kms left, they were caught as the road started roll up and down.
Through the tunnel and a roundabout and the battle for the line was on. Thor Hushovd was set up by his team mates and won in a time of 3.38.08 ahead of Van Asbroeck, Haller and Kenny Van Hummel.