Edvald Boasson Hagen pulled out a stunning performance on home ground to win stage four at the Tour of Norway and claim the race lead.
The Norwegian fired clear over the top of the Kinnshaugen climb and linked up with Sergio Paulinho (Team Saxo-Tinkoff) on the run back into the centre of Lillehammer.
A tense chase ensued with 12 riders linking up to close down the plucky pair, but with a slender gap stabilising it was left to Boasson Hagen to kick again in the final kilometre, riding to an immensely popular solo victory by 11 seconds.
With overnight race leader Alexander Kristoff losing contact after a fierce pace had been set by Team Sky, the win moved Boasson Hagen into a 27-second race lead over Paulinho with one stage remaining.
“It’s an amazing feeling to win here again. The team did a really good job today in controlling things from the start.
“After they’d done all the work other teams began attacking me and I decided to go by myself on the way to the finish. I’d planned to do that this morning and I wanted to try and either arrive alone or have someone to ride with. Everything went to plan.
“[The support here] is like the Tour de France. It is amazing that so many people come out to watch the race and cheer for me.
“There are more climbs tomorrow and it will be really hard. We need to keep focussed for one more day and hopefully I can stay in the yellow and green jerseys tomorrow.”
20.05: GP Mazda SCHELKENS |
20.05: Paris - Troyes |
20.05: Ronde van Limburg |
12.05 - 21.05: Tour d'Algérie |
22.05: GP de la Ville d'Annaba |
20.05 - 24.05: Cycling Tour of Albania |
24.05: GP de la Ville d'Alger |
23.05 - 25.05: Tour of Estonia |
25.05: Due Giorni Marchigiana |
25.05: ZLM Omloop der Kempen |
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