Boasson Hagen joins Sky

Eurosport - Thu, 10 Sep 14:55:00 2009

Ghent-Wevelgem Classic winner Edvald Boasson Hagen has signed for Team Sky.

CYCLING 2009 - Giro - Boasson Hagen - 0

The promising 22-year-old Norwegian, formerly with Columbia-HTC, also won the Tour of Benelux and a stage of the Giro d'Italia this season.

He is one of 10 international riders to join the new team. Swede Thomas Lovkvist, Australian Simon Gerrans, Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha, Finland's Kjell Carlstrom, South Africa's John Lee Augusty, Greg Henderson of New Zealand, the Norwegian Lars Petter Nordhaug and Morris Possoni of Italy have also joined the British outfit.

"I've had two fine years in Columbia with a good sporting director and good riders, but I wanted to try something new and got the opportunity to speak to (sporting director) Scott Sunderland and Sky," Boasson said, adding he had signed a three-year deal.

Team Sky announced on Wednesday the signing of six British riders, including Beijing Olympic gold medallist Geraint Thomas.

British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford has now announced 16 of an expected 25-strong rider roster and expects his squad to be finalised in the coming days.

"It's another big step in building Team Sky, and it's very exciting to see the team take shape," he said.

"These international riders join a British contingent - a fundamental part of the team - that we announced yesterday.

"There will be more riders joining them and we will announce them as and when we are able to.

"It is very exciting for us all to be pulling together the final parts of the team.''

Reuters

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  1. That's going to be a pretty decent team, on paper.­ It'll be interesting to see how it comes together­ in reality. If it's managed well (which it should­ be) Team Sky could enjoy an excellent season.

    From belfastfootball, on Thu 10 Sep 8:45PM

  2. I see the article has now been expanded - making my­ comment below seem daft :)

    From Sara Simon, on Thu 10 Sep 4:23PM

  3. what a line up!! boassen hagen brilliant, gerrans­ brilliant!! and i reckon in years to come augustyn will­ be some amazin mountain rider!! the way he flew up the­ bonnette lst year was unreal, although he will have to­ work on his descending ability.

    From djwiners, on Thu 10 Sep 2:32PM

  4. HUGE signing for Team Sky. EBH is a great prospect...­ for me he can do it all.. sprint, TT, climb and has the­ makings of being a future G.Tour winner.. go Team Sky..­ well happy... got to hand it to Brailsford by signing­ EBH he will get plenty of invites to top P.Tour or Cat­ 1 races from the off... brilliant news for the sport­ and GB cycling

    From Shiek, on Thu 10 Sep 1:26PM

  5. For those interested, the other riders are:
    Edvald­ Boasson Hagen, Thomas Lövkvist, Kurt Asle Arvesen,­ Simon Gerrans, Juan Antonio Flecha, Kjell Calström,­ John Lee Augustyn, Greg Henderson, Las Petter Nordhaug­ and Morris Possoni.

    This is shaping up to be a really­ great team. Full of bright and tough riders. Glad that­ Boasson Hagen will have the chance to shine. In a way,­ I hope there aren't any riders announced who are­ better than Gerrans and him, just so that we can really­ see what they can do with full support.

    It's also­ nice to know that these riders have been approved by a­ famously anti-doping director. Great news.

    From tryingtimes1, on Thu 10 Sep 1:11PM
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