Assessing the performance of Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky Procycling directeur sportif Sean Yates has said that this year’s Tour de France is a step up in the career of the Norwegian, and an important part of his evolution as a big rider.
“Obviously it was fantastic for Eddy to get two stages. We knew for a long time that he is a big talent, but he had not really had a chance to show it with us due to injuries and illness, etcetera. But he came of age in this year’s Tour, and came up with the goods as well,” he told VeloNation in a video interview prior to the start of yesterday’s final stage. “For sure in the future we will see a lot more of him.”
The Norwegian has been successful in the sport for several years, with past victories including stage wins in the Giro d’Italia and Critérium du Dauphiné plus the overall classification in the Tour of Britain. Surprisingly, he’s still just 24 years of age and should continue to keep gaining strength in the seasons ahead.
Yates believes that he’s going to win big in the future, although he said it will take more time to accurately gauge what he can do. “In two or three years, I think the Classics like the Tour of Flanders [are possible wins],” he said. “Obviously winning stages in the Tour de France and suchlike. A lot of people are talking about GC, but I think it is too early to talk about that.
“He has to try to enjoy it and get the feeling for the win. He is not from a cycling background. But now he has got a taste of Tour de France victories, so it is nice.”
The team went to the race with a very different strategy in mind. Britain’s Bradley Wiggins won the Critérium du Dauphiné in June and Sky Procycling felt sure that he could aim to equal or improve upon his fourth place of 2009. However he went out of the race early due to injury, and so it had to revert to plan B.
“Obviously it was devastating when Bradley went out, especially for himself,” Yates said. “But you still had eight world class athletes who like to ride their bike, who like to compete, who like to win. Obviously there was a change of emphasis then…”
The full interview is visible below.