Tour de France: Boasson Hagen seals second stage victory

Published on Wednesday 20 July 2011 15:11

Edvald Boasson Hagen gave Thomas Voeckler a lesson in descending to secure his and Team Sky's second stage win of the Tour de France.

Having done his homework on Team Sky's reconnaissance in mid-June, the 24-year-old from Lillehammer mastered the final run-in to Pinerolo as the Tour travelled into Italy to win the 179-kilometre 17th stage from Gap.

Voeckler (Europcar), though, saw his lead in the yellow jersey cut to one minute 18 seconds ahead of tomorrow's return to France, losing crucial seconds after a wayward descent resulting in him at one point losing control and going off into a roadside driveway. As Voeckler was wobbling behind him, Boasson Hagen made amends for his second place to compatriot Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo) yesterday with a second Tour stage win. But unlike his victory on stage six to Lisieux, when Geraint Thomas played a key role in the sprint leadout, Boasson Hagen claimed a solo success after watching the final stages on video afterwards.

The Norwegian was unfazed by a final 8km from the summit of the Cote de Pramartino labelled "fatally dangerous" by two-time Tour runner-up Andy Schleck before the stage. Boasson Hagen said: "I wasn't afraid of the descent because I've done it in training and watched it on video. I knew almost every corner and I was just looking forward to the finish. It was quite technical and I didn't find it dangerous."

Boasson Hagen attacked on the day's final climb, with 11km remaining, following a burst from Sylvain Chavanel before overtaking the QuickStep rider and going alone. He reached the summit of the category two, 6.7km climb with an advantage of fewer than 20 seconds, but by the finish he had established a 40-second winning margin over runner-up Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), with Sandy Casar (FDJ) taking third place ten seconds further adrift, ahead of fellow Frenchmen Julien El Fares (Cofidis) and Chavanel.

A prodigious talent and much-sought after when he signed for Team Sky in 2009, Boasson Hagen's lead up to his debut Tour 12 months ago was hampered by an Achilles injury, while he had a bout of shingles at the end of June. But he has now delivered on his potential. There are two Norwegians in the peloton and each have now won twice - Boasson Hagen emulating world champion Hushovd's earlier successes. He added: "I was so close yesterday and I really wanted to get revenge and try to win. I was focusing on this stage to get in the break and attack. I'm really happy and Thor and I have had a great Tour."

Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Frank Schleck, Andy Schleck (both Leopard Trek), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) all finished 4:26 behind Boasson Hagen and 27 seconds ahead of Voeckler.Evans now lies second, 1:18 behind Voeckler, Frank Schleck is third, 1:22 adrift, with Andy Schleck 2:36 behind in fourth, Sanchez 2:59 adrift in fifth and defending champion Contador 3:15 behind in sixth.

Today's 18th stage sees the Tour return to France from Pinerolo to Galibier Serre-Chevalier. Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) extended his lead in the points classification by one and is 35 points clear of Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar) with four days of racing remaining.