A solid team performance by Dimension Data placed Edvald Boasson Hagen in the perfect position to give the team their first top ten finish in the second stage of the Criterium du Dauphine that finished in Arlanc yesterday.
Boasson Hagen sat on stage winner Arnaud Demare’s wheel as the bunch approached the final metres but was bumped on to the barrier by Nacer Bouhanni, leaving him with no way through to the front.
Edvald Boasson Hagen finished sixth in stage two of the Criterium du Dauphine, which finished in Arlanc, yesterday. Photo: Stiehl Photography
“Everything was perfect until the final sprint. I was a bit blocked and never got to open up properly because I was in the wrong position,” said Boasson Hagen, who finished sixth in the bunch.
“Bouhanni came from the inside and pushed me toward the barrier but that is part of sprinting though, to be in the right position,” he said.
It was Scott Thwaites who safely delivered his Norwegian teammate to the front after diligent work from Youcef Reguigui and Serge Pauwels.
Before the final sprint it was Jay Thomson and Ben O’Connor who maintained enough pressure to bring back breakaway rider Alexey Lutsenko.
“The guys did really well today. The team rode in front, took control and brought back the guy in the front,” said Boasson Hagen.
“The guys did really well, I am happy with how they went so we will keep trying and hopefully it all comes together for us.”
Boasson Hagen, who has success at the Criterium du Dauphine, is Dimension Data’s protected rider at the French tour.
Fresh from success at the Tour of Norway and Tour de Fjords recently, Boasson Hagen said he hoped to repeat his success of the past.
