Cycling: Wiggins hails selfless Boasson Hagen after stage win

Published on Thursday 7 July 2011 12:55

Team SKY will turn their full attentions to Bradley Wiggins after securing a much-awaited Tour de France stage win.

Welshman Geraint Thomas yesterday surged up the final climb with Edvald Boasson Hagen in tow, and the 24-year-old from Lillehammer burst across the line for victory on the rain-soaked 226.5-kilometre sixth stage from Dinan to Lisieux. It was a vindication of Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford's ambition, but the goals are higher for the British team, who are seeking to propel Wiggins to the podium in Paris on July 24.

Brailsford said: "To get a stage win early on takes the pressure off Bradley."

Wiggins, who remained sixth overall behind race leader Thor Hushovd, was pleased Boasson Hagen was rewarded for his selfless work for the team. He said: "He's the first to sacrifice his chances for me. Now, when he's working in the days to come he'll know he's already got something."

Brailsford, as British Cycling performance director, led Britain to eight golds at the Beijing Olympics before dividing his time with the Team Sky project established with the aim of producing a British Tour champion within five years. Brailsford has spoken of the mutual benefits for British Cycling, using Thomas as an example.

Brailsford said: "There is no better leadout man in the world than Geraint Thomas."

In 2012, Thomas is likely to be seen leading out Mark Cavendish, who has been linked with a move to Team Sky at the end of his HTC-Highroad contract. Cavendish was unable to contest the finale yesterday, but today's seventh stage finishes in Chateauroux, where he claimed his first Tour win in 2008, and few would be against him adding to his prolific record.