Edvald Boasson Hagen Versus Peter Sagan - Who is the better rider?

[Netserk]

Vs.

Who is the better rider of the two atm?
Who has the greatest potential?
What are their advantages/disadvantages compared to each other?

To me it seems that EBH is the fastest in a flat sprint and on the cobbles, and Sagan in more difficult finishes. Though I think these two riders are very similar. What are your opinions?

 

[Netserk]

Peter Sagan

Palmares:

2 stage wins and overall points classification - Paris-Nice
1 stage win - Tour de Romandie
3 stage wins, 2 overall points classification and youth classification - Tour of California
1 National road race
3 stage wins - Vuelta a España
3 stage wins, overall points classification and general classification - Tour de Pologne
2 stage wins and overall points classification - Tour de Suisse

 

[Netserk]

Edvald Boasson Hagen

Palmares:

5 National TT champ
7 stage wins, 2 overall points classification and 1 general classification - Tour of Britain
1 stage win - Critérium International
4 stage wins, 3 overall points classification, 1 young rider and 2 general classification - Eneco tour of Benelux
1 Gent-Wevelgem
1 stage win - Giro d'Italia
2 stage wins - Tour de France
2 stage wins - Tour de Pologne
1 stage win - Tirreno-Adriatico
1 stage win - Dauphiné Liberé
1 Vattenfall Cyclassic
1 stage win and overall points classification - Bayern-Rundfahrt

 

[scullster46]

EBH is better right now, but i think sagan has more potential. IMO he has a slightly better sprint, which is huge for guys who aren't top sprinters(like cav, kittel, farrar) and aren't top climbers. EBH has the better engine right now, but Sagan will develop one as he is already very good in prologues. Both are incredibly talented either way, and already have shown how good they really are

 

[Cobblestoned]

I would say Eddie is leading right now, but Peter has 3 more years to overtake him.
When they end their career, their palmares should look equal. But I have the feeling that Peter can win everything that is out there, and Eddie is more limited.

 

[El Pistolero]

Peter Sagan is better.

 

[The Hitch]

Its a very tough one but Ill go with Sagan. In a similar thread a year ago I went with EBH and in 4 or 5 months I might go with him again, but atm Im edging to Sagan.

 

[hfer07]

tough call since we haven't seen yet the entire potential of either one.
Sagan to me has the best prospect due to his "voracious" appetite for victory & raw power-but then EBH seems to be performing better as he ages & perhaps he's ready to win his first monument in 2012.

both magnificent riders nonetheless

 

[maltiv]

I think you have to take into equation that Sagan rides a lot more races which suit his characteristics than EBH does. Liquigas is very good at sending Sagan to races with many reduced bunch sprints which he excels at, whilst Sky seems to prefer to send EBH to races like Qatar, Bayern etc. Also they have more or less never raced vs each other. The only occasions in the last 2 years they have been in the same race is Canada last year (EBH 2nd in Quebec, Sagan 19th whilst in Montreal they both were in the 6 man chase group before EBH fell) and worlds this year (EBH 8th, Sagan 12th).

I'd say EBH is currently the better rider as he has a slightly stronger sprint, about equal climbing, but much stronger time trial. However, Sagan is younger so might be slightly more talented. That being said, at 21 EBH had won G-W and a stage at the Giro, both bigger victories than anything Sagan has won as of yet.

 

[maltiv]

tough call since we haven't seen yet the entire potential of either one.
Sagan to me has the best prospect due to his "voracious" appetite for victory & raw power-but then EBH seems to be performing better as he ages & perhaps he's ready to win his first monument in 2012.

both magnificent riders nonetheless

EBH won the most races of any cyclists in 2007 (15) and third most in 2009 (16), not like he doesn't have an appetite for victory

 

[theyoungest]

I'd say EBH is currently the better rider as he has a slightly stronger sprint, about equal climbing, but much stronger time trial. However, Sagan is younger so might be slightly more talented. That being said, at 21 EBH had won G-W and a stage at the Giro, both bigger victories than anything Sagan has won as of yet.

Sagan won 3 Vuelta stages. I'd say that is at least as impressive as winning one Giro stage. And you have to take into account the way in which EBH won Gent-Wevelgem... Sagan could have won that as well, against the amazing Alexander Kuschynski.

EBH is certainly more allround, but Sagan has the potential to win more and bigger races IMO. If I had to name one heir apparent to Philippe Gilbert, it's him.

 

[Panda Claws]

EBH is a better sprinter and time-trialist now and he has the advantage of greater endurance due to his age.

But Sagan can climb better while none have shown any particular affinity with cobblestones yet.

I think Boasson Hagen will become more of a Cancellara kind rider and Sagan will become more of a Gilbert.

 

[Havetts]

I'd vote for Edvald Boasson Hagen

But Sagan can climb better

You mustve missed the stage to Collet D'Allevard in the Dauphiné and the stage to La Toussuire, EBH was a key factor for Wiggins!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

EBH is a better sprinter and time-trialist now and he has the advantage of greater endurance due to his age.

But Sagan can climb better while none have shown any particular affinity with cobblestones yet.

I think Boasson Hagen will become more of a Cancellara kind rider and Sagan will become more of a Gilbert.

since when?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Definetly EBH imo.

 

[Panda Claws]

Ok so he can't climb better.

I guess I was wrong.

 

[Roland Rat]

EBH needs a completely injury-free season before we can better guage how good he is. Hopefully he'll get a proper go at the classics next season.

 

[theyoungest]

You mustve missed the stage to Collet D'Allevard in the Dauphiné and the stage to La Toussuire, EBH was a key factor for Wiggins!

But Sagan is better and more explosive in the hills, and that's what's relevant for both of them. Neither will be a GT rider.

 

[Havetts]

But Sagan is better and more explosive in the hills, and that's what's relevant for both of them. Neither will be a GT rider.

They won't be GT riders everyone knows that, but I think we'll be seeing EBH win stage races more often than Sagan. Although Sagan was mightily impressive in the Tour de Pologne this year.

 

[ferryman]

Both are phenomenal talents and I'd rather not choose at this time. There is nothing between them just now. BUT since the OP asks the question I would just edge Sagan.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

But Sagan is better and more explosive in the hills, and that's what's relevant for both of them. Neither will be a GT rider.

did you see him this years tour?

 

[maltiv]

Sagan won 3 Vuelta stages. I'd say that is at least as impressive as winning one Giro stage. And you have to take into account the way in which EBH won Gent-Wevelgem... Sagan could have won that as well, against the amazing Alexander Kuschynski.

EBH is certainly more allround, but Sagan has the potential to win more and bigger races IMO. If I had to name one heir apparent to Philippe Gilbert, it's him.

Imo 1 giro stage = 2 vuelta stages. Also 3rd on a TT in Giro + two second places (behind Scarponi and Sivtsov, saying a bit about how hard those stages were). The Vuelta stages Sagan won was vs very low competition.

The way he won G-W...Errh, that would be by dropping everyone in the final climb, riding up to the breakaway and then winning. The fact that it was Kuschynski who was in the lead has nothing to do with it - EBH dropped all the other contenders and was the strongest guy in the race.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Sagan because I drafted him ahead of Hagen in some points-related cycling game for next season

 

[theyoungest]

Imo 1 giro stage = 2 vuelta stages. Also 3rd on a TT in Giro + two second places (behind Scarponi and Sivtsov, saying a bit about how hard those stages were). The Vuelta stages Sagan won was vs very low competition.

The way he won G-W...Errh, that would be by dropping everyone in the final climb, riding up to the breakaway and then winning. The fact that it was Kuschynski who was in the lead has nothing to do with it - EBH dropped all the other contenders and was the strongest guy in the race.

But who were those "other contenders"... I seem to remember a group with guys like Tankink and Hayman, which formed quite early in the race. And that's the level of rider that Sagan could drop as well. Mind you, we're talking about the two biggest talents in cycling, I'm not saying this wasn't impressive by EBH or anything.

did you see him this years tour?

Yes. I've seen him climbing impressively elsewhere as well. But I think Sagan has more of a punch in the hills.

 

[greenedge]

I would go for EBH at the moment. I think Sagans' sprit is better on harder finishes but EBH has the potential to be good on climbs and is a better ITTer and sprinter on flats.

Can't really distinguish between the 2 as they do not race often against each other.