CW Exclusive: Cavendish overjoyed for Boasson Hagen

• Friday, 15 May 2009
• Stephen Farrand
• 0 Comments

Mark Cavendish was wet and cold after today's 242km Giro d'Italia stage to Chiavenna but like everyone on the Team Columbia bus, he was happy that team mate Edvald Boasson Hagen had won.

Cavendish finished 11th, one place behind fellow Brit Ben Swift (Katusha) and 40 seconds behind Boasson Hagen. After the finish, Cavendish was the first to hug the young Norwegian and seemed almost as happy as if he’d won himself.

“It’s brilliant for the team to get another win,” he told Cycling Weekly after getting changed into warm clothing.

“Edvald’s a great rider and is so versatile, he can do almost everything. He chased for me when I crashed (on the stage to Valdobbiadene), he worked for me in the last kilometre in the sprint (in Trieste) and then he was in the front group in the mountains helping Rogers and Lovkvist. He’s a super, super talent. When he really learns how to race well, he’ll be unstoppable.”

Cavendish revealed he helped Boasson Hagen go clear on the crazy rain soaked descent to the finish.

“I went for it on the descent going through the tunnel. That served as a slingshot for Edvald to get across, so it was perfect,” he said.

“It’s not often I get to contribute to someone else’s win like that. It’s nice. If I can do it, I have to try and pay the lads back for all the work they do for me.”

Cavendish admitted he is feeling tired after seven days of racing but seems to be enjoying the Giro.

“The finale was really cold and very technical. I think you could have taken 200km off the stage and still have had the same outcome,” he said.

“I’m tired but I think most people are tired. It’s been a long first week with the Dolomites.”

Saturday’s eighth stage includes the Colle del Gallo climb and the short ramp up to Bergamo Alta used in previous edition of the Tour of Lombardy.

It could also suit Boasson Hagen, while Cavendish and Team Columbia have their eye on Sunday’s criterium stage in the centre of Milan.

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Giro d'Italia 2009 links

Stage reports
Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage
Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break
Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin

Photo galleries
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Desktop wallpaper photos

News
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Armstrong sees Leipheimer in pink
Giro news round-up: 14 May
Wiggins: 'I can't keep smashing away on the climbs'
Wiggins eyes top 20 finish overall
Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'
Cavendish looking for Giro revenge
Armstrong happy with stage four performance
Lovkvist will fight to keep Giro lead
Giro could be last race for Armstrong's team
Vande Velde crashes out of Giro
Petacchi claims he didn't know of Cavendish crash
Cavendish struggles to find consolation in pink jersey
Petacchi: I've been working out how to beat Cav
I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish
Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial
Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up
Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial
Team time trial start times
Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction
Brits in Venice for Giro presentation
Armstrong overshadows overall favourites at Giro presentation
Armstrong confident of finding new sponsor for Astana
Armstrong working to save Astana team
Wiggins in top form for Giro
Garmin Slipstream kitted out for Giro opener
Dan Lloyd gets late Giro call-up
Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled
Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride
Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia
Cavendish tests Giro form at Tour of Romandie
David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro
Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints
2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice
Evans and Silence-Lotto disagree on Giro 2009 ride
Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro
Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route
Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey

2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features
Find the pink jersey competition
Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview
British riders to have led the grand tours
CW's Giro top ten prediction
Brits in the Giro 2009
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia

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2008 Giro d'Italia archive
Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results
From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race
Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special
Five days to go, what's in store?
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview

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