Team Dimension Data will look to defend their Tour of Norway title when the five-stage race begins tomorrow.
DiData’s Edvald Boasson Hagen won the title last year and after a tumultuous year for the African team thus far this year they have selected a team they believe is best equipped to defend the title.
DiData’s Edvald Boasson Hagen (middle) will look to defend his title of the Tour of Norway when the five-stage race begins tomorrow. Photo: Photo credits
Four of the five stages are hilly, which suits Boasson Hagen as a climber. However, the Norwegian has also shown he can sprint with the best of them, which bodes well for him on the sprinters’ day (stage three).
Lining up alongside Boasson Hagen will be South Africans Nic Dougall, Nicholas Dlamini and Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg and Eritreans Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and Merhawi Kudus.
Janse van Rensburg will be racing for the first time this year after an injury ruled him out for the first half of the season.
“The tour will be an exciting week for us in many ways,” team director Gino van Oudenhove said. “Edvald is defending his title in addition to racing on home soil for himself as well as for me.
“We also have the return of Reinardt to racing. We have a really good set-up here and will support Edvald in the best possible way.”
The first stage comprises a 186km route from Svelvik to Horten.
