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RACE REPORTS: 71ST GENT-WEVELGEM: BOASSON HAGEN CONFIRMS
Brecht Decaluwé-RBA Classics Correspondent
April 8, 2009
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Boasson Hagen claims victory in the 71st Edition of Gent-Wevelgem
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Norway's promising young star Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad) captured his first classic by claiming the win in a stormy 71st edition of Gent-Wevelgem, part of the UCI's ProTour. Boasson Hagen surprised Liquigas' Aleksander Kuschynski with an early move in the two-man sprint through the streets of Wevelgem. A late counter-attack from Andreas Klier, Mathew Hayman and Matthew Goss came close but fell short in the end. Many big names were eliminated early on as crosswinds and the formation of echelons took out most of the peloton, including pre-race favorite and teammate of the eventual winner Mark Cavendish.
The 21 year-old Norwegian winner is regarded as one of the biggest talents in the peloton and finally managed to live up to the high expectations. “It's really big to win such a big race. I went on the cobbles [of the Kemmelberg, at 35km from the finish] and caught the guy in front [Kuschynski] and we worked together until the last kilometer. I opened the sprint and took it,” Boasson Hagen said. The young Norwegian started the sprint from far out and surprised Kuschynski. Still the winner had to sit down multiple times and looked uncomfortable during the sprint. “I felt it was the moment to go. I figured that I had to go on the left to have much more speed than him. I was little bit afraid but felt strong and could hold on.” Boasson Hagen is the second Norwegian winner of Gent-Wevelgem, after Thor Hushovd in 2006, said.
The runner-up of the day was humble in his defeat and applauded the young winner. “There were a lot of crosswinds and rain early on. Then, at 300m of finish I was surprised and he captured a couple of meter which was too much for me,” Kuschynski said.
In spite of what its name says Gent-Wevelgem holds its start – since 2004 - in Deinze. Many riders were unpleasantly surprised by the foul weather when they stepped out of the team bus and most of them were sent off the back when true 'flandriens' blew the race apart by forming echelons against the crosswinds right from the start. More than thirty riders survived the first scrimmages, including Tom Boonen and multiple Cervélo and Columbia riders though pre-race favorite Mark Cavendish missed the right breakaway.
 Boonen chances for victory were ended by a punctured (Photo: Brecht Decaluwé)
Kuschynski anticipated the second climb of the steep Kemmelberg and on the climb Boasson Hagen joined him. Team Columbia-Highroad, including George Hincapie and Marcus Burghardt, showed confidence in their man up front and took care to stop working in the 23-man chaser's group; the three chasers only got away when the gap with the two leaders was safe. Kuschynski led out the sprint in which Boasson Hagen quickly captured a few meters and his first win at the Spring Classics.
 Boasson Hagen answers questions after his first classics victory (Photo: Brecht Decaluwé) 71st Gent-Wevelgem
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (N), Columbia, 5:00:31
2. Aleksandr Kuschynski (BLR), Liquigas, @ s.t.
3. Matthew Goss (Aus), Saxo Bank, @ .52
4. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, @ s.t.
5. Andreas Klier (G), Cervélo TestTeam, @ .55
6. Koldo Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, @ 1:48
7. Marcus Burghardt (G), Columbia-Highroad, @ 2:25
8. Tom Leezer (Nl0, Rabobank, @ 2:25
9. Manuel Quinziato (I), Liguigas, @ 2:25
10. Jeremy Hunt (GB) Cervélo TestTeam, @ 2:25
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