Boasson-Hagen Takes The Wattenfall

Last updated : 21 August 2011 By Kev Monks

Edvald Boasson-Hagen won the Wattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg this afternoon.

A strong field including Brits Geraint Thomas, David Millar, Roger Hammond, Peter Kennaugh, Steve Cummings, Matt Brammier, Philippe Gilbert, Mark Renshaw and Thor Hushovd saw four escapees get away on a complicated course more designed for the spectators of which there was a reported 850,000.

Those escapers included Thomas De Gendt and Pavel Brutt but their thirty second lead soon evaporated and it was the likes of Geraint Thomas who was now amongst the leading group who went up the Waseberg with 16kms to go.

The lead group, of about twenty riders and led by Team Sky, was 22 seconds ahead of the peleton with 6.4kms to go.

Thomas had Edvald Boasson Hagen in his wheel and was bring his sprinter towards the finish line. With 1.4km to go, Lars Boom of Rabobank shot away. Sky and Astana responded and Boasson Hagen was perfectly placed to make his move and win the race ahead of Gerald Ciolek and Borut Bozic in a time of 4hr 40 mins and 40 seconds.