Despite never living up to the huge expectations which have grown following his first successful seasons at Team Sky, being on a contract year, Edvald Boasson Hagen enjoys reportedly serious interest from several different squads and his agent told Norwegian media that it is not decided yet whether the 26-year old classics specialist will stay in the British team. Boasson Hagen also revealed that even though he still hopes to become a part of Sky’s Tour de France roster, he focuses on the Giro d’Italia at the moment since Riche Porte has withdrawn from the Italian grand tour.

The Team Sky Tour de France roster is yet to be determined, but Boasson Hagen hopes to use the Giro d’Italia to ride himself into a proper form and convince team’s management to let him tackle the French grand tour one more time this season. Last year the 26-year old Norwegian was a part of a team build around Chris Froome for his successful campaign, but pulled out of competition with broken collarbone after its twelfth stage.

Being at Team Sky from its very beginning and expected to become important role in their squad for spring classics, Boasson Hagen has won 19 races under the banner of the British team, including Eneco Tour, the Vattenfall Cyclassics race, the GP Ouest France-Plouay and two stages at the 2011 Tour de France. However, most of those victories were taken during his first two years at Sky and he never lived up to the huge expectations as a promising rider for cobbled monuments since then.

It is not ruled out that Boasson Hagen will stay in the ranks of the British team since the Norwegian claims to be happy in the squad. However, his agent Birger Hungerholdt revealed that considering significant interest from several teams particular criteria were listed, including “peace of mind, good teammates, an English speaking team, a good programme and the chance to ride for himself in some races.”

"There are many teams that have shown interest. We've an ongoing dialogue with some of them," Hungerholdt told Verdens Gang.

Although Team Sky had to rearrange several race programmes recently to make sure Froome will be provided with a good support of reliable climbers during his Tour de France title defence, it’s still no mean feat to receive a spot in the nine-rider roster.

Thus, the 26-year old Norwegian decided to contest the Italian grand tour, where lack of a leader potentially capable of taking the spoils in general classification should provide him with several opportunities to play his own cards. Boasson Hagen also hopes that good performance at the Giro d’Italia will increase his chances to become a part of a team for the Tour de France.

"I'm not out of the Tour de France discussions but I have to, like all the other riders, perform well to be in the final selection," Boasson Hagen told Procycling.no.

"I want to ride the Giro, so that's my plan now. The final selection is not ready yet, but I hope to ride."