Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Wait over as Boasson Hagen's homework pays off

Published 21/07/2017, 20:54
Updated 21/07/2017, 21:00
© Reuters. Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race

© Reuters. Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race

By Martyn Herman

SALON-DE-PROVENCE, France (Reuters) - Edvald Boasson Hagen proved that it's always better to do your homework thoroughly as he ended a six-year wait for another Tour de France stage victory on Friday.

The versatile Norwegian, riding for the African-based Dimension Data team, was part of a nine-man lead group speeding towards a roundabout 2.5km from the finish line of the 222km trek from Embrun on stage 19.

While seven of them veered left, the long way round, Boasson Hagen and Sunweb's German rider Nikias Arndt swerved to the right -- instantly catapulting themselves clear of their pursuers.

Boasson Hagen, a class act who won two stages for Team Sky in 2011 but who had suffered torment this year with two runners-up finishes and two third places, then outclassed Arndt to take the victory by a comfortable five seconds.

"This morning we watched a video of the finale and we were instructed to be on the right side," the 30-year-old, who lost a photo-finish to Marcel Kittel on stage seven, said.

"It was shorter. Everyone else went on the left, except Nikias Arndt. It was the right moment to go.

"I had studied the course and I knew I had to go right in that last roundabout. Afterwards, I managed to go solo and I was so happy when I crossed the line. I've been so close so many times. It's really nice to finally get this victory for the team and for myself as well."

It was a joyous moment too for team boss Douglas Ryder, whose outfit uses it's Tour income to provide bicycles for Africans in rural areas.

With the team's sprint king Mark Cavendish crashing out early in the Tour, it looked as though Dimension Data would not have the stage win that does so much for the Qhubeka charity which it promotes and supports.

Ryder could hardly contain himself at the finish in Salon-de-Provence and was full of praise for Boasson Hagen.

"An amazing way to win it," he said. "We plan for every metre of the end of these stages and we knew he had to go around the roundabout to the right. We gained 10 metres. But Edvald still had to have the power to finish it off."

Cavendish, who was watching at home with a fractured shoulder, joined in the celebrations for his team mate who is so often the unsung hero in the Manxman's sprint victories.

© Reuters. Cycling - The 104th Tour de France cycling race

"Yesssssssssss!!!!!! Edvald!!!!!! Finally!!" he said on Twitter. "I'm in tears. You absolute hero!"

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.