Thor Hushovd and Edvald Boasson Hagen to lead the Norwegian team at the London Olympics 2012
The 2012 Olympic Games is undoubtedly the biggest sporting event of the year and cycling is an essential ingredient of the mega event.
With less than two months to go, all the major cycling nations are preparing for the coming event and Norway has named its final squad for the contest.
Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky and Thor Hushovd of Team BMC will lead the Norwegian side at the road race events.
Norwegian Sports Director Steffen Kaergaard is certain that the selection has been made on the merit and his side is pretty much capable of grabbing the gold in London.
He cited, “This is a difficult race to control because each nation has fewer riders at the start than at the Worlds”.
“This will be an advantage for the Norwegian team, as we have more riders at a high level to determine the race in our favour".
“Hushovd has been named as the team’s road captain for London, but this does not necessarily mean that he will be the leader on the day. It’s too early to say at this time”.
The duo will be accompanied by Alexander Kristoff of Team Katusha, Lars Petter Nordhaug of Team Sky with Vegard Stake Laengen of Team Type 1 and Gabriel Rasch of Team FDJ-BigMat in the reserves.
Thor Hushovd is having a tough season and has struggled to open his 2012 winning account. The 34-year-old is optimistic to find his winning ways ahead of the London’s event.
On the other hand, Edvald Boasson Hagen is in the best of his forms with several victories in his bag already.
He grabbed stages at the Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta ao Algarve and the Glava Tour of Norway.
The cyclist also secured the first overall position during the Glava Tour of Norway along with the point’s classifications and the young rider’s classifications.
The 2012 Olympic Games are scheduled from July 28-August 12, 2012 and the final Norwegian squad is as under,
Road race: Thor Hushovd (BMC), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky)
Reserves: Gabriel Rasch (FDJ – BigMat), Vegard Stake Laengen (Team Type 1)
Time trial: Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky)
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