There are several changes to the team for the second of the three Ardennes races including the outgoing Geraint Thomas after a long Classics campaign and will now enjoy a period of rest.
With Boasson Hagen also having a break, the recent winner of Stage 2 and the overall victory at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali, Peter Kennaugh, is handed his debut in the Ardennes.
Sport Director Nicolas Portal explained the squad changes on the Team Sky website for Flèche Wallonne. "They all gave it 100% and you can't ask for any more than that. Christian [Knees], Danny [Pate], Ian [Boswell] and Josh [Edmondson] were really good today and Nathan [Earle] did a lot of work as well," Portal said.
"We couldn't give Edvald as much support as we'd wanted in those last 20km though, and that showed when those last attacks went on the Cauberg.
"We have Pete [Kennaugh], Mikel [Nieve] and David [Lopez] coming in [...] for Flèche Wallonne so I think we will be much fresher for that, and if we avoid any more bad luck, we should be in good shape."
Australian Nathan Earle was the second best Sky rider in 79th place at his debut Amstel Gold Race. The 25-year-old is set to complete the Ardennes week with Liège–Bastogne–Liège on Sunday before heading to the Tour de Romandie in support of Chris Froome.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Team Sky will bring in Froome and Richie Porte for La Doyenne, which celebrates its 100th edition in 2014, as both continue their preparation for the Tour de France.
Team Sky for the 78th La Flèche Wallonne: Ian Boswell, Nathan Earle, Josh Edmondson, Peter Kennaugh, David López, Mikel Nieve, Danny Pate, Ben Swift.
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
