RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF BRITAIN STAGE 4: BOASSON HAGEN AGAIN!

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RACE REPORTS: TOUR OF BRITAIN STAGE 4: BOASSON HAGEN AGAIN!
Road Bike Action & AFP
September 15, 2009

(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Columbia won his second consecutive stage in the Tour of Britain Tuesday to move within one second of overall race leader, Kai Reus of Rabobank. "We're close now and so we have to try and win overall," said Team Columbia team coach Valerio Piva. "Edvald is on form, we've got a strong team here, and so why not? We've done it before."

Australia's Chris Sutton also moved within striking distance of the overall lead with his fourth consecutive top three finish in the 148-km circuit stage around the Forest of Bowland. Sutton is just five seconds adrift of the yellow jersey in third overall and now leads the points standings. "It was a pretty good day for me overall and I have to be pleased with how things have gone so far this week," he said. "It's been a great week for me so far and I had no intention of chasing the GC when I got here. But now all the lads are telling me to go for it and give it a go but we will have to see."

Sutton, who won Saturday's first stage in York, again paid tribute to Garmin teammate Bradley Wiggins - who played a critical role in dragging back a five-man breakaway in the closing kilometers. "He was pushing 60kmh for a lot of the ride and I was telling him to slow down because I'd need him at the finish. But he just looked at me and said 'don't worry about it, I've got loads in the tank'."

Team Columbia took over command of the the peloton in the final kilometers and while a crash 500-meters from the finish scattered the peloton Boasson Hagen was ahead of it and got a perfect lead out from Tony Martin. It was the defending race champion's 11th win of the 2009 season and the 79th victory for Team Columbia.

Tour of Britain Stage 4
1. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Columbia-HTC) 3:32:04
2. Christopher Sutton (Aus/Garmin-Slipstream) @ s.t.
3. Martin Reimer (Ger/Cervelo)
4. Russell Downing (GBr/Candi TV-Pinarello RT)
5. Koldo Fernandez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi)
6. Tony Martin (Ger/Columbia-HTC)
7. Renaud Dion (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale)
8. Mauro Finetto (Ita/CSF Group-Navigare)
9. Graham Briggs (GBr/Candi TV-Pinarello RT)
10. Malcolm Elliott (GBr/Candi TV-Pinarello RT)

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Kai Reus (Ned/Rabobank 14:56:19
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Columbia-HTC) @ .01
3. Christopher Sutton (Aus/Garmin-Slipstream) @ .05
4. Martin Reimer (Ger/Cervelo) @ .11
5. Michele Merlo (Ita/Barloworld) @ .14
6. Alexander Kristoff (Nor/Joker Bianchi) @ .19
7. Simon Clarke (Aus/ISD) @ .21
8. Reinier Honig (Ned/Vacansoleil) @ .23
9. Rob Ruygh (Ned/Vacansoleil) @ s.t.
10. Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra/Agritubel)

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