Ellen van Dijk edges prologue in Norway

The four-day race, which concludes on Sunday, began with a 3.4-kilometres prologue and the Dutch rider topped the podium after recording three minutes and 44.92 seconds.

Exactly one second separated the the top three with compatriot Marianne Vos (WM3 Pro Cycling) just six tenths of a second behind to finish as runner-up, with Australia's Katrin Garfoot (Orica-Scott) coming in third.

A trio of Britons came into the prologue with the hope of victory but Team WNT-rider Katie Archibald headed the pack with a 10th-placed finish with a time of three mins and 50.69 secs. Dani King (Cylance ProCycling) and Hayley Simmonds (Team WNT) and both finished outside of the top 30.

Friday's second stage, which includes a 156.6 kilometre climb, starts in Halden and finishes in Mysen.