Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-HTC) won the third stage of the 2009 Tour of Britain in Gretna Green on Monday thanks to a high-speed lead out from his team mates on the fast and dead-straight finish.
The Norwegian star, who was recently announced to be riding for Team Sky in 2010, outgunned Italy's Michele Merlo (Barloworld) and stage one winner Chris Sutton (Garmin-Slipstream) to take his first victory of this year's race. Last year, he claimed three stages before emerging as one of the most exciting young talents in the sport.
Russell Downing (CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta) was best Brit in the sprint, finishing sixth after being held-up in the fight for position.
No success for Gretna Green elopers
There was no success for any elopers on the 153.8km route from Peebles to Gretna Green today. Darren Lapthorne (Rapha-Condor) finally flew the flag for the British teams when he got in a four-man move but they were caught 25km from the finish. Lapthorne then had a double puncture and finished 12 minutes down.
The Agritubel team took turns to attack but even a good late solo effort from Emilien Benoît-Bergès was also nullified by the peloton in the run-in to the finish.
Columbia then hit the front just like they have done in so many races in the last two years. Mark Cavendish has often finished off the job but this time, with Cav recovering from a chest infection after pulling out of the Tour of Missouri, Boasson Hagen was the designated sprinter. He finished off the great work done by Columbia with ease.
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Thanks to a ten-second time bonus, he also jumped to second overall, 11 seconds behind Dutchman Kai Reus (Rabobank) and could emerge as a real overall threat.
"Last year was really great and I hoped to win a stage this year. It was really good I made it happen today," Boasson Hagen said in the winner's press conference.
"I got a perfect lead-out from the team. We were waiting till 2km to go, then we set the pace with everyone on the front, we were going so fast that I couldn't see any other riders. Tony Martin led me out to 300 to go then I opened the sprint, maybe a little bit early but I made it."
"It's nice to win stages but I want to try to keep close to the general classification. If I win stages then it's also possible to take yellow jersey."
Boasson Hagen's win was the first by a rider who will ride for Team Sky in 2010. It will go down as Team Columbia's 74th win of the season but is also a sign that Team Sky were right to go after the talented Norwegian. He can win sprints, be a major star in classics and could eventually develop into a Tour contender.
"I'm really excited about joining Team Sky, I think it's going to be a really good team," Boasson Hagen said of his future in the British-based squad.
"I don't know if I can win the Tour de France but I can do some good rides there and I know I'll get some good support. I don't know what I'll specialise in in the future. I'm going to keep going and see what the best races are for me."
Asked if Team Sky can be as strong as Columbia, he replied: "I hope we can be that strong, I think we can. We have some good riders. The important thing is to have good riders and good organisation, and that they support me. They have promised me that."
On Tuesday the Tour of Britain heads into the hills for stage four. It is a 151km testing loop through the Forest of Bowland that starts and finishes in Blackpool. It includes the climbs of Tatham Fells, the Cross of Greet and Waddington Fell. However, all three climbs are in the middle of the stage before a long run-in to the Blackpool promenade.
Results
Tour of Britain 2009: Stage three, Peebles-Gretna Green, 153.8km
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Columbia-HTC in 3-38-01
2. Michel Merlo (Ita) Barloworld
3. Chris Sutton (Aus) Garmin-Slipstream
4. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Katusha
5. Davide Appollonio (Ita) Cervelo
6. Russell Downing (GB) CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta
7. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Joker-Bianchi
8. Pierpaolo De Negri (Ita) ISD-Neri
9. Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
10. Geraint Thomas (GB) Barloworld all same time.
Overall classification after stage three
1. Kai Reus (Netherlands) Rabobank
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Columbia-HTC at 11sec
3. Chris Sutton (Aus) Garmin at 12sec
4. Michele Merlo (Ita) Barloworld at 14sec
5. Martin Reimer (Ger) Cervelo at 17sec
6. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Joker-Bianchi at 19secs
7. Rob Ruygh (Ned) Vacansoleil at 23sec
8. Russell Downing (GB) CandiTV-Marshalls Pasta at 25sec
9. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Katusha at 26sec
10. Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport-Vlaanderen at 26sec
Related links
Stage two: Dutchman Reus wins second stage
Stage one: Sutton wins opening stage
Tour of Britain 2009: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Can a British rider win the Tour of Britain?
British pros head home to fight for Worlds places
Halfords hit the Tour of Britain
Rapha-Condor names Tour of Britain squad
Cavendish to miss Tour of Britain
Katusha and Rabobank announce Tour of Britain teams
Tour of Britain and Tour Series on ITV4
Tour of Britain 2009 route unveiled
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