Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Morale Sky High in Oman

Geraint Thomas and the rest of the Team Sky squad will channel all their energies into protecting Edvald Boasson Hagen's leader's jersey at the Tour of Oman.

Boasson Hagen leads the overall standings following his victory in the third stage on Tuesday, which came hot on the heels of podium finishes in the opening two stages.

Thomas and the other riders all worked superbly together to put the young Norwegian in the perfect position to go for the win and he's now looking for more of the same as the week progresses.

Thomas told www.teamsky.com: "Edvald is in a good position now, with a decent lead over most of the peloton and he can time trial really well so we just need to try our best to control it now over the next few days.

"It's great to get the win today, we've worked so hard over the last couple of weeks in first Qatar and now Oman and when it all comes together like that it's really nice.
Extra special

"Being a new team makes it extra special and morale's really high so it's all good."

Things went very much to plan in the third stage from Saifat Ash Shiekh to Qurayyat as Thomas explained: "We looked to control the race from the start with having Edvald in the [leader's] jersey. A couple of other teams came up to help us just before the climb as they wanted a bunch sprint too.

"We all got over the climb together and just set Edvald up nicely. As soon as he gets a finish like that - a dead straight road - it's perfect for him and he just used the horsepower he's got to win it well."

Boasson Hagen had gone close in the previous two stages - and also in Qatar the previous week - and Thomas added: "We all knew he was fast enough - and so did he - it was a question of getting him in that clear space and with a clear run to the line.

"That allowed him to use all that speed and power and strength that he's got. We set him up nicely and he finished it off a treat."

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