Cycling: Edvald Boasson Hagen wins again

Photo: Gary McManus / Team Columbia-HTC.

Team Columbia-HTC again dominated the racing at the Tour of Britain on Thursday, with Edvald Boasson Hagen winning his fourth consecutive stage in Bideford, writes the American team on its website.

The longest stage in this year’s race headed into the hills of Somerset and Devon for 183km of hard racing. Five riders went on the attack early but Team Columbia-HTC kept them within reach and then pulled them back in the final kilometres of the stage.

Boasson Hagen hit the front with three hundred metres to go and nobody was able to pass him. Martin Reimer was second and Russell Downing was third. The Columbia-HTC rider from Norway now leads Kai Reus of the Netherlands by 19 seconds.

“That was a strong group in front and it was hard to catch, but the team worked really, really hard,” Boasson Hagen said.  “Tommy (Lovkvist) did an amazing effort from 2km to 1km out.  In the last corner a Cervelo rider came through but it meant I had a nice lead out from him. Then I just went full gas to the line.  We have won four stages, I’m really satisfied with that, but I want to try for number five tomorrow.”

The stage is over 159km from Hatherleigh to Yeovil in the southwest of Britain.  Boasson Hagen could also win a sixth stage and seal the overall victory when the Tour of Britain ends in central London with a circuit race on Saturday.

Source: Highroadsports.com