Sky delivers 'Eddy' Boasson Hagen to third without pressure

tour de france, tour, tour de france 2010, team presentation

Sky's quiet rider, Edvald Boasson Hagen gave the team more to cheer about today, 24 hours after its success in Arenberg. 'Eddy' received his chance from the team and sprinted to third at the end of stage four in Reims.

"It was a very good job from the team to get me in the right position," said the 23-year-old Norwegian. "It was good to get third - I'm really happy."

Team Sky sent Juan Antonio Flecha and Geraint Thomas up to the front in the final kilometres of the flat stage to Reims to protect Boasson Hagen. He benefited from the work of Mark Cavendish's team, HTC-Colombia, and tried his best to upset super sprinter, Italian Alessandro Petacchi.

He failed, Petacchi won the stage, but he finished ahead of 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen (Katusha).

"It was just giving him a little opportunity to let him see what it was about," added sports director, Rod Ellingworth. "For Edvald the whole experience is important, he's excited about what he's doing."

Sprinter Thor Hushovd of team Cervélo usually entertains around 20 Norwegian journalists after each stage with a blow-by-blow recount of his day, but today, he had less. Some of them swarmed the Sky bus to speak to 'Eddy', winner of last year's Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Britain.

"There is no pressure on him, he is not expected to win by the team. He has to help Brad [Wiggins], and that is what he is here to do," Team Manager David Brailsford told the journalists.

"He is a young guy, there is a lot of weight and expectation on his shoulders. I think we still need to hold the horses, the victories will come to him in due time. He is a phenomenal talent, let's just let him develop."

Alessandro Petacchi wins Tour de France 2010 stage 4

Boasson Hagen (left) finished stage four in third behind Petacchi (right) and Dean (middle)

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Tour de France 2010: Stage reports

Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims

Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC

Stage three live coverage: As it happened

Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa

Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters

Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win

Tour de France 2010: Photos

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one gallery

Prologue photo gallery

Tour de France 2010: Videos

Stage three video highlights

Stage two video highlights

Stage one video highlights

Prologue video highlights

Tour de France 2010: Race guide

Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

Official start list, with race numbers

Brits at the Tour 2010

Tout team guide

Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins

Tour de France 2010: Pictures

Tour team presentation, Rotterdam

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