Edvald Boasson Hagen - How Good Is He

[ingsve]

He may be all that, but I thought it was poor form to outsprint his team captain in stage 8 to take valuable time bonus seconds off Rogers. You never know how valuable 6 seconds may be at the end of the Giro.

He said after the race that the idea was to help Rogers to get 2nd but Rogers didn't manage that so it was better that he took the bonus seconds instead.

I'm sure he didn't realise at the time in the split second right before the line that the diffrence between 2nd and 3rd is less than between 3rd and 4th.

As it turned out it almost worked out perfectly anyway. Rogers was only like half an inch behind Di Luca and had Rogers gotten 3rd and Di Luca 4th that would have been even better than if he was 2nd and Di Luca 3rd.

 

[samb01]

He has purposely didn't prolong his contract with Columbia last year and also turned down offers from other teams earlier this year as well in order to gamble

Not much of a gamble. He had, despite his age, already demonstrated his mettle over several seasons, and would have no trouble getting a new contract even if he showed no to little improvement this year. There was hardly any downside to waiting.

Also, I don't think he and his manager has turned down any concrete offers, they've simply declined to enter into negotiations. It would be odd to sign with a different team with most of the season still to go.

 

[ingsve]

Not much of a gamble. He had, despite his age, already demonstrated his mettle over several seasons, and would have no trouble getting a new contract even if he showed no to little improvement this year. There was hardly any downside to waiting.

Also, I don't think he and his manager has turned down any concrete offers, they've simply declined to enter into negotiations. It would be odd to sign with a different team with most of the season still to go.

He did get a lucrative concrete offer from a "one of the largest teams in the world" but turned it down a few weeks before Gent Wevelgem. There has also been "many" teams that have shown initial interest.

And it is a gamble in the sense that you always risk getting injured in which case your bargaining situation becomes alot more defensive.

 

[Aguirre]

Edvald Boasson Hagen

this thread title suggest just that: Until where can this young talent arrive?

Big Sprints, stages, Big Classics, Worlds, TTs, or Great Tours it seems his future is unstopable

After this season and regarding what he offered in Eneco Tour EBH deserves to be at the center of world cycling.

 

[pmcg76]

Maybe a bit dated now but a lot of relevant info already posted on this subject.

 

[philcrisp]

Thought so

EBH was also smashing up the Tour of Britanny in 07.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2007/apr07/bretagne07/default

Love the domain name for the archive.

 

[Henrik]

For what it is worth he is also up to third in the world rankings:
http://www.wvcycling.com/worldranking/2009

I think he will be one of the dominant riders of this generation. An obvious candidate for most of the classics and the worlds. Already by now I think he has the capacity to win many one week tours.

I doubt that he will be a man for the GT's, but then again he is only 22 and by losing a few pounds and further enhancing his skills on the TT and in the hills, who knows?

 

[workingclasshero]

eddie boy, my favourite kid. the saviour of cycling. even his lack of carisma is charming

i believe he's shred a bit of that baby fat already, lost 3-4-5 kgs since this time last year i think from a chat on mount ventoux with one of the main people from his childhood cycling club

 

[issoisso]

Already by now I think he has the capacity to win many one week tours.

It would have to be a very very flat one, such as the ENECO, Poland when they're not in the Jelezsnia Gora region (to which they'll be going back next year for the first time in 5 years thank god), or like 2006 a Tirreno edition where the mountain stage is cancelled due to weather.

Just a few days ago on the "queen stage" (this being the ENECO it was hardly very hilly) he was being put into difficulty on the climbs by guys who are anything but climbers and struggled to hold on. And this is in top form.

He's a fantastic prospect, but let's not get carried away. He has no chance in the vast majority of week-long tours

 

[Henrik]

Perhaps I got overly enthusiastic, but I obviously think he is better when it's hilly than you do. But I guess we will get some kind of answer at the worlds next month.

 

[issoisso]

Perhaps I got overly enthusiastic, but I obviously think he is better when it's hilly than you do. But I guess we will get some kind of answer at the worlds next month.

Well, let's look at how he's done in the hills, shall we?

In the spring he got dropped by non climbers and time triallists, hardly encouraging.

A few days ago at the ENECO, in tip top form, or so I would think, he hung on by the skin of his teeth on the climbs.

In his junior days he would lose dozens of minutes on hilly stages of the Avenir.

I don't see it in him. Never say never, but right now he doesn't "have it"

 

[Henrik]

Well we don't have to go back longer than the Giro where he sat with the best in the climbs the first week, until he was told to drop back by his team to save energy. But hey I'm not saying he could win the Dauphiné Libéré etc now, nor that I think he will ever evolve into a GT contender.

 

[ingsve]

Well, let's look at how he's done in the hills, shall we?

In the spring he got dropped by non climbers and time triallists, hardly encouraging.

A few days ago at the ENECO, in tip top form, or so I would think, he hung on by the skin of his teeth on the climbs.

In his junior days he would lose dozens of minutes on hilly stages of the Avenir.

I don't see it in him. Never say never, but right now he doesn't "have it"

It depends on what we mean by climbing.

The guy is 22 years old and not exactly built like Andy Schleck so of course his climbing won't be his best attribute right now but from what he has shown so far it's clear to me he has the potential to develope into a decent classics climber. It all depends on what type of training he'll focus on.

He won't be a high mountain climber unless he really changes his physique some more but he's a far better climber than most other sprinters.

He can certainly win MSR RVV and PR but I also think he will have the capability to win Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Vallone and GP Suisse and other such types of races. That also means that he will probably be in contention to win certainly 75% of all worlds courses. Tougher climbs like I said will probably need alot more work so I didn't include LBL and Giro de Lombardia for example.

 

[Bala Verde]

The flech Wallone finishes uphill on Huy... That seems a little out of his league.

 

[ingsve]

The flech Wallone finishes uphill on Huy... That seems a little out of his league.

Well, he finished 4th in Eroica this year which finishes on an equally steep hill but perhaps slightly shorter so I wouldn't rule it out.

 

[Bala Verde]

Well, he finished 4th in Eroica this year which finishes on an equally steep hill but perhaps slightly shorter so I wouldn't rule it out.

That's correct. But the field is generally a lot stronger in Fleche.

Big hitters in the Eroica in 2007/08 were Cancellara, Ballan, Kolobnev (21st FW). In 2009, BH came in 4th behind Lövkvist (6th in FW), Wegmann (18th FW), Elmiger and before Gerdemann, Visconti, Velits (92nd FW), Schleck (2 FW), Lloyd, Hesjedal (25th FW), Bennati and Ivanov (13th FW).

Most of those guys, you won't see back on Huy. Where, this year, the likes of Rebellin, Schleck, Cunego, Sanchez, Evans were top 5.

Unless some of these Ardennes classics guys fade away, while he in the meanwhile improves his climbing significantly in combination with targeting these races specifically, I don't think he'll be in for a top 5 spot.

He is very strong and don't doubt his talent or potential, but - hmm haven't I said this somehwere before - I think there will always be a better Ardennes Classics specialist (ie more fit for these races) out there that will prevent him from taking the victory.

 

[ingsve]

That's correct. But the field is generally a lot stronger in Fleche.

Big hitters in the Eroica in 2007/08 were Cancellara, Ballan, Kolobnev (21st FW). In 2009, BH came in 4th behind Lövkvist (6th in FW), Wegmann (18th FW), Elmiger and before Gerdemann, Visconti, Velits (92nd FW), Schleck (2 FW), Lloyd, Hesjedal (25th FW), Bennati and Ivanov (13th FW).

Most of those guys, you won't see back on Huy. Where, this year, the likes of Rebellin, Schleck, Cunego, Sanchez, Evans were top 5.

Unless some of these Ardennes classics guys fade away, while he in the meanwhile improves his climbing significantly in combination with targeting these races specifically, I don't think he'll be in for a top 5 spot.

He is very strong and don't doubt his talent or potential, but - hmm haven't I said this somehwere before - I think there will always be a better Ardennes Classics specialist (ie more fit for these races) out there that will prevent him from taking the victory.

What you are forgetting is the potential to improve. You are comparing the results he has done now with other riders preformances but that's not the point. His results now are just an indication of what he might become in the future. Don't you think that if he focuses on developing his climbing ability a little that he won't be a better climber at 30 than what he is now? Unless he goes the route to become a specialist sprinter, which I hope he won't then I'm certain he will be a good enough climber to be up there in the races I mentioned.

 

[Bala Verde]

Let's just say we have different opinions.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I'd currently come down on BV's side.
EBH was hanging on the Cauberg stage. In fact, he got dropped on a couple of the lesser climbs, only to claw his way back on.

However, as ingsve says, he has the potential to improve.
Have we not seen this with other riders, of late?

 

[Bala Verde]

I'd currently come down on BV's side.
EBH was hanging on the Cauberg stage. In fact, he got dropped on a couple of the lesser climbs, only to claw his way back on.

However, as ingsve says, he has the potential to improve.
Have we not seen this with other riders, of late?

He sure has potential to improve, and indicative is his strong TT, which means he can put out a lot of power. If he focusses on climbing, loses quite some weight, and builds his whole season around these Ardennes Classics, he might possibly be in contention for a top 10-5.

But still, I fear that in the end, there are others who are more 'specialized' physiologically and hence, 'intrinsically' better climbers.

Presently, Valverde (178cm 61kg) (Ban?), Cunego (169cm 65kg) (form?), Gesink (187cm 68kg), A. Schleck (186cm 67kg), F. Schleck (186cm 67kg) are ahead of him in AGR, FW, LBL. In the future, I think, based on their past results, people like Van Garderen (186cm 72kg), Uran (173cm 65kg), Mollema (181cm 64kg), have shown to be much better climbers than BH, and could well take over the torch.

I mean, when was the last time that LBL or FW was won by someone of BH physiology (currently at 181cm 76kg)? Even Lars boom, with also an impressive ITT, is lighter, 191cm 72kg, and I would not rate him as a LBL or FW winner. Ivanov, latest AGR winner is 181cm 72kg, while Kroon, second, is 180cm 67kg.

At the moment, and based on his past results, he reminds me more of Devolder (182cm 72kg) and perhaps AGR winenr Ivanov, than of a nimble Bettini, Boogerd, Rebellin or Di Luca. If anything AGR is the race that is most within reach, but still LBL and FW?

I hope I am wrong though, because he sure is great to watch.

 

[wheels55]

Any more info on what team EBH is likely headed to?

All the recent posts are in agreement on his potential - seems like the next big factor might be who he works with from this point forward and his ability to focus everything on improving his skills toward specific goals. I'd hate to see him grabbed by a team that just wants to exploit his demonstrated talents without continuing to nurture and refine him for the future.

A lot of young stars have unfortunately gone that route (Ullrich, Danielson as a few examples) - with their teams throwing major leadership responsibilities at them prior to helping them develop completely re: tactics, handling pressure, leadership skills, etc.

Not to say that EBH has been, or even needs to be, coddled - but a lot remains to be seen. I think we'd all agree that this is as much a mental game as physical. Too much too fast can be just that for a young guy - while others are able to handle the pressure and stay focused. And, there are obviously some DS's who are better than others at knowing what to do and when.

All that said, I agree he'll be fun to watch - hopefully we'll see lots more great things to come.

Cheers.

 

[issoisso]

Any more info on what team EBH is likely headed to?

Team Sky..

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well, he finished 4th in Eroica this year which finishes on an equally steep hill but perhaps slightly shorter so I wouldn't rule it out.

And he was outclimbed on the Doodeman climb (900m at 9,8%) in the ENECO Tour when ... Joost Posthuma (here, our great ardennes man) accelerated! 5/6 man jumped away from him, and then he almost dropped from the pursueing group. Guys like Van Avermaet and Bakelants were jumping away from him...

So don't, please don't go there I think he has little chance in Ardennes classics, very very little chance.
Also, when he was an espoir, the reason he never won big espoir tours, was because better climbers, especially Bauke Mollema (winner Tour l'Avenir) and Tony Martin (well, enough said) simply dropped him... even in the hilly stages (Avenir has no real high mountains)

 

[ingsve]

If anything AGR is the race that is most within reach, but still LBL and FW?

I never said LBL. That's out of his reach unless he gets a real climbers physiology. I still think FW might be in reach at some time in his carrer unless he only focuses on sprinting mainly. I'm not saying he'd ever be the favourite or anything like that, only that it might be in range for him. It would be the limit of what would be in range as far as climbs are concerned.

 

[Aguirre]

well, cancellara prooved in tdf that a GT is out of his reach atfer climbing like an angel in soft TdSuisse.

If EBH is lighter than him and climbs better at age 22, who knows when he will be 27?

Indurain never won LBL, FV or Lombardia, but he got what he got.
Indurain, Ullrich, Rijs are some tall riders that improved TdF with weight, so I canno't see why EBH wouldn't if we base our predictions based in weight/power.

Of course everybody thinks Andy and Kreuziger have better bodies but EBH seems to be a diamond. Don't forget Lars Boom too.