Edvald Boasson Hagen of Dimension Data won stage four of the Criterium du Dauphine with a powerful sprint into Belley yesterday.
Edvald Boasson Hagen of Dimension Data wins stage four of the 2016 Criterium du Dauphine. Photo: Stiehl Photography
He outsprinted Frenchmen Julian Alaphilippe of Etixx-QuickStep and Nacer Bouhanni of Cofidis to win the 176km stage from Tain-l’Hermitage.
The day got off to a slow start due to a headwind, but this did not stop three riders from attacking as soon as the flag dropped.
Maxime Bouet of Etixx-Quickstep, Frederik Veuchelen of Wanty-Groupe Gobert and Bryan Nauleau of Direct Energie were the aggressors and they forced a five-minute lead over the peloton.
With just three riders sharing the workload compared to a number of teams contributing in the peloton, it was never going to be a day for the break.
The inevitable catch took place with just three kilometres to go and then it was another showdown between the sprint trains.
Dimension Data again pinned their hopes on Boasson Hagen as they tried to keep the Norwegian champion in a good position for the finale.
Nathan Haas of Dimension Data and Youcef Reguigui of MTN–Qhubeka did a sterling job to move Boasson Hagen up at key moments before the sprint.
The final 800m rose steadily to the line and this suited Boasson Hagen perfectly.
As Orica-GreenEdge led out the sprint, he waited for the right moment and his timing couldn’t have been more perfect as he hit the front with 150m to go.
With DiData’s Continental rider Keagan Girdlestone in hospital after a life-threatening crash in Italy on Sunday, Boasson Hagen gave the family reason to smile again.
