Team Dimension Data’s Edvald Boasson Hagen finished fourth in the 180km Dwars door Vlaanderen in Belgium today.
The Norwegian formed part of a select group who broke away at the 50km mark. The group whittled down to 13 riders with 20km left as Boasson Hagen stayed at the head of affairs.
Edvald Boasson Hagen in action during the Dwars door Vlaanderen in Belgium today. Photo: Stiehl Photography
Quickstep-Floors’ Yves Lampaert, Sunweb’s Mike Teunissen, EF-Education’s Sep Vanmarcke and Trek-Segafredo’s Mads Pedersen made a decisive split soon after that point.
Boasson Hagen then bridged the gap from the quartet, as the five riders created a 30-second gap from the chasers. With two kilometres to go, a game of cat and mouse ensued between the five escapees.
Lampaert, with 800-metres left, launched an attack and rode clear from his other breakaway companions to win the race in 4:09:40.
Boasson Hagen led the chase, before Teunissen and Vanmarcke took over right before the line to finish in second and third respectively. Pedersen followed closely in fifth.
“I am happy but also disappointed with today’s race,” Boasson Hagen said after the race. “I was always in a good position and I stayed near the front.
“I felt good enough to be part of all the definitive moves, but it was tricky in the final when it became more about tactics rather than strength.”
Boasson Hagen said he was “stupid” not to follow Lampaert in that final attack. “I missed out on the podium, because nobody wanted to chase, so I led from too far out.
“I am pleased to have been part of the final and I can take confidence from the positive signs that my form showed, but I would have obviously liked to get more out of today’s race, especially coming so close.”
View more results below.
1. Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors 4:09:40
2. Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Sunweb +0:02
3. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
5. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo
6. Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick-Step Floors +0:29
7. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal +0:30
8. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team +0:59
9. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quick-Step Floors
10. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
