Tour des Fjords: Boasson Hagen wins final stage

Two years after he claimed stage 3 at the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Norwegian time trial championship, Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka) made his comeback as a winner as he snatched the conclusive stage of the Tour des Fjords in a thrilling finale that saw Marco Haller making it for Katusha’s tactical mistake the previous day.

The Austrian took over from Søren Kragh Andersen (Tre For-Blue Water) to clinch the first stage race overall win of his career in the home of his teammate Alexander Kristoff, whose three initial stage victories have ensured the success of the event.

“I’m very happy to finally win a race after two years,” Boasson Hagen said. “I was feeling very good at the Tour of Norway last week and during the Tour des Fjords but I had to convert that into a victory. I’m glad it happens here in Norway before I’ll go to France to ride the Dauphiné.

“I had a perfect position before the last climb where I was able to accelerate and go away. Then, our group of four riders worked very well together. They let me sit back and save some energy for the sprint. I’m also happy with the way we changed my training. The transition [from Team Sky to MTN-Qhubeka] has worked well.”

In the steep and narrow climb officially named Sømarkbakken but commonly known by cyclists as Grisebakken – which means the pig’s hill – Boasson Hagen strongly attacked with 9km to go. Only Daryl Impey (Orica-GreenEdge), Haller and his teammate, Sven-Erik Bystrøm, managed to follow him.

“I was near the front of the peloton but some guys next to me didn’t ride fast enough,” Kragh explained. “At the same time, the breakaway was caught as we rode into the hill. I was feeling that I could go after Haller but it didn’t happen and the chase wasn’t strong enough as several teams came to the front but not for a long time.”

The escapees of the day were Rasmus Christian Quaade (Cult Energy), Etienne van Empel (Roompot), Pieter Jacobs (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Wouter Mol (De Rijke) and Audun Brekke Fløtten (Ringeriks-Kraft). They got up to six minutes lead but were brought back in the third and final lap of the finishing circuit around Stavanger where Boasson Hagen outsprinted Impey while Haller was full of praise for Bystrøm’s dedication.

“You hardly see neo pros who can pick the level so fast and have such a huge impact on the races,” Haller said. “He’s one of the most talented riders I’ve ever seen. With a bit of experience, he’s going to be world champion as a pro as well as a U23. Today I’m so happy that everything worked out. I owe my win to Team Katusha since we worked hard the whole week.

“I’m proud and happy to make it in front of the amazing crowd,” Haller said. “Actually, our plan was to try and make it in the sprint after collecting bonus seconds [Haller won the first intermediate sprint ahead of Kragh], but I had so strong legs today that I took the momentum on the steep hill and went for it with Impey, Hagen and Bystrøm. This was a hard race with some big names competing so it’s a great feeling to be the overall winner.”

The other name that’ll remain from the third edition of the Tour des Fjords is Kragh who ended up second on GC after taking the lead in the queen stage. “I’m very disappointed but also satisfied with my performance in the race”, the 20-year-old Dane said. “It’s frustrating to be so close to winning the overall. I had bad luck today but a lot of luck yesterday, so I’ll bring good memories home.”

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN - Qhubeka4:04:18
2Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 1 - Cell 2
3Marco Haller (Aut) Team KatushaRow 2 - Cell 2
4Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team Katusha0:00:06
5Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:00:15
6Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - QhubekaRow 5 - Cell 2
7Mads Pedersen (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 6 - Cell 2
8Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 7 - Cell 2
9Daniel Hoelgaard (Nor) Team JokerRow 8 - Cell 2
10Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 9 - Cell 2
11Michel Kreder (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje PelotonRow 10 - Cell 2
12Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team KatushaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Pawel Franczak (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Eduard Prades Reverte (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 13 - Cell 2
15Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Trefor - Blue WaterRow 14 - Cell 2
16Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 15 - Cell 2
17Alexander Wetterhall (Swe) Team Tre Berg-BianchiRow 16 - Cell 2
18Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 17 - Cell 2
19Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team KatushaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Pawel Bernas (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Frederik Galta (Nor) Team Coop-Oster HusRow 21 - Cell 2
23Sam Oomen (Ned) Rabobank Development TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Haavard Blikra (Nor) Team Coop-Oster HusRow 23 - Cell 2
25Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 24 - Cell 2
26Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje PelotonRow 25 - Cell 2
27Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 26 - Cell 2
28Carlos Barbero Cuesta (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 27 - Cell 2
29Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 28 - Cell 2
30Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Trefor - Blue WaterRow 29 - Cell 2
31Christian Meier (Can) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 30 - Cell 2
32Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 31 - Cell 2
33Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 32 - Cell 2
34Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Team Sparebanken SorRow 33 - Cell 2
35Ricardo Vilela (Por) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 34 - Cell 2
36August Jensen (Nor) Team Coop-Oster HusRow 35 - Cell 2
37Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 36 - Cell 2
38Jesus Ezquerra (Spa) Activejet TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Erick Rowsell (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 38 - Cell 2
40Francis De Greef (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 39 - Cell 2
41Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 40 - Cell 2
42Lennard Hofstede (Ned) Rabobank Development TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Asbjørn Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Trefor - Blue WaterRow 42 - Cell 2
44Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 43 - Cell 2
45Jan Maas (Ned) Rabobank Development TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Michal Podlaski (Pol) Activejet Team0:00:24
47Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:00:37
48Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge0:00:47
49André Looij (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje Peloton0:01:35
50Petter Theodorsen (Nor) Team Ringeriks - KraftRow 49 - Cell 2
51Etienne Van Empel (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje Peloton0:01:40
52Ole Andre Austevoll (Nor) Team Fixit.no0:01:54
53Sebastian Balck (Swe) Team Tre Berg-Bianchi0:01:55
54Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Rabobank Development TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Andreas Erland (Nor) Team Sparebanken SorRow 54 - Cell 2
56James Mc Laughlin (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 55 - Cell 2
57Sander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:02:15
58Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:02:21
59Wouter Mol (Ned) Cyclingteam Join's - de Rijke0:02:30
60Songezo Jim (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:03:17
61Torstein Traaen (Nor) Team Ringeriks - KraftRow 60 - Cell 2
62Audun Brekke Fløtten (Nor) Team Ringeriks - KraftRow 61 - Cell 2
63Rasmus Christian Quaade (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:04:56
65Gert Steegmans (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:06:38
66Simon Spilak (Slo) Team KatushaRow 65 - Cell 2
67Marcus Faglum Karlsson (Swe) Team Tre Berg-BianchiRow 66 - Cell 2
68Matthew Holmes (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 67 - Cell 2
69Michael Reihs (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 68 - Cell 2
70Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 69 - Cell 2
71Ole Forfang (Nor) Team Ringeriks - Kraft0:07:02
72Ike Groen (Ned) Cyclingteam Join's - de RijkeRow 71 - Cell 2
73Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 72 - Cell 2
74Adrian Gjølberg (Nor) Team Fixit.noRow 73 - Cell 2
75Nick Dougall (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Vegard Robinson Bugge (Nor) Team Sparebanken SorRow 75 - Cell 2
77Antonio Molina (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 76 - Cell 2
78Reidar Bohlin Borgersen (Nor) Team Joker0:10:50
79Fridtjof Røinås (Nor) Team Sparebanken SorRow 78 - Cell 2
80Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 79 - Cell 2
81Karel Hnik (Cze) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 80 - Cell 2
82Reinier Honig (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje PelotonRow 81 - Cell 2
83Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Adrian Aas Stien (Nor) Team JokerRow 83 - Cell 2
85Fillip Eidsheim (Nor) Team Fixit.noRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFMagnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFDanny Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory RacingRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Carbel Svendgaard (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFJef Van Meirhaeghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFArthur Van Overberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFKamil Gradek (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFTaco Van Der Hoorn (Ned) Cyclingteam Join's - de RijkeRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFRonan Van Zandbeek (Ned) Cyclingteam Join's - de RijkeRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFMitchell Cornelisse (Ned) Rabobank Development TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFJeroen Meijers (Ned) Rabobank Development TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFTorstein Stokkenes (Nor) Team Fixit.noRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFTruls Engen Korsaeth (Nor) Team JokerRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Foder (Den) Team Trefor - Blue WaterRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Nybo Riis (Den) Team Trefor - Blue WaterRow 100 - Cell 2
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General Classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha22:18:47
2Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Trefor - Blue Water0:00:12
3Michael Olsson (Swe) Team Trefor - Blue Water0:00:24
4Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling0:00:28
5Amets Txurruka (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:00:39
6Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-GreenEdge0:00:41
7Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:46
8Mads Pedersen (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling0:00:47
9Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha0:00:53
10Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:59
11Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 10 - Cell 2
12Christian Meier (Can) Orica-GreenEdge0:01:06
13August Jensen (Nor) Team Coop-Oster Hus0:01:13
14Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 13 - Cell 2
15Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo0:01:16
16Michel Kreder (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje Peloton0:01:22
17Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 16 - Cell 2
18Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:24
19Sam Oomen (Ned) Rabobank Development TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:01:25
21Francis De Greef (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:32
22Pawel Bernas (Pol) Activejet TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Team Sparebanken Sor0:01:46
24Erick Rowsell (GBr) Madison GenesisRow 23 - Cell 2
25Ricardo Vilela (Por) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 24 - Cell 2
26Asbjørn Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Trefor - Blue Water0:01:59
27Frederik Galta (Nor) Team Coop-Oster Hus0:02:00
28Lennard Hofstede (Ned) Rabobank Development Team0:02:13
29Eduard Prades Reverte (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:02:15
30Alexander Wetterhall (Swe) Team Tre Berg-Bianchi0:02:29
31Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo0:02:31
32Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje Peloton0:02:55
33Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-Saxo0:03:15
34Petter Theodorsen (Nor) Team Ringeriks - Kraft0:05:12
35Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge0:05:20
36Sebastian Balck (Swe) Team Tre Berg-Bianchi0:07:18
37Jan Maas (Ned) Rabobank Development Team0:08:19
38Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team Katusha0:09:29
39Antonio Molina (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:10:11
40Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:11:00
41Simon Spilak (Slo) Team Katusha0:11:14
42Marcus Faglum Karlsson (Swe) Team Tre Berg-Bianchi0:11:51
43Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team Katusha0:13:16
44Carlos Barbero Cuesta (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA0:15:41
45Daniel Hoelgaard (Nor) Team Joker0:15:55
46Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:16:34
47Ole Andre Austevoll (Nor) Team Fixit.no0:16:58
48Michael Reihs (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling0:17:31
49Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing0:18:13
50Juraj Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo0:18:18
51Haavard Blikra (Nor) Team Coop-Oster Hus0:18:36
52Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Rabobank Development Team0:18:39
53Jesus Ezquerra (Spa) Activejet Team0:18:47
54Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory Racing0:20:09
55Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:20:33
56André Looij (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje Peloton0:22:57
57Audun Brekke Fløtten (Nor) Team Ringeriks - Kraft0:24:58
58Sander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:25:43
59Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:25:46
60Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:25:58
61Wouter Mol (Ned) Cyclingteam Join's - de Rijke0:26:58
62Andreas Erland (Nor) Team Sparebanken Sor0:27:51
63Torstein Traaen (Nor) Team Ringeriks - Kraft0:28:01
64Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:28:24
65Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge0:29:34
66Pawel Franczak (Pol) Activejet Team0:29:58
67Reidar Bohlin Borgersen (Nor) Team Joker0:30:46
68Etienne Van Empel (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje Peloton0:31:18
69Dmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team Katusha0:31:46
70Adrian Aas Stien (Nor) Team Joker0:33:05
71Vegard Robinson Bugge (Nor) Team Sparebanken Sor0:34:20
72Matthew Holmes (GBr) Madison Genesis0:34:46
73Rasmus Christian Quaade (Den) Cult Energy Pro Cycling0:35:38
74Fillip Eidsheim (Nor) Team Fixit.no0:37:05
75Songezo Jim (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:37:07
76Nick Dougall (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:40:40
77Fridtjof Røinås (Nor) Team Sparebanken Sor0:42:03
78Ike Groen (Ned) Cyclingteam Join's - de Rijke0:42:07
79Gert Steegmans (Bel) Trek Factory Racing0:42:48
80Ole Forfang (Nor) Team Ringeriks - Kraft0:43:40
81Karel Hnik (Cze) Cult Energy Pro Cycling0:46:19
82James Mc Laughlin (GBr) Madison Genesis0:46:50
83Michal Podlaski (Pol) Activejet Team0:47:36
84Reinier Honig (Ned) Team Roompot Oranje Peloton0:52:34
85Adrian Gjølberg (Nor) Team Fixit.no0:58:03

 

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