Norwegian to end career at world championships
Kurt Asle Arvesen has been announced as part of the team who will be defending Thor Hushovd’s world championship jersey in Copenhagen, Denmark next month. Arvesen, who will be retiring as a professional cyclist at the end of the season, will join Edvald Boasson Hagen and Gabriel Rasch who complete the four-man team.
“I’m ready for the World Cup, and is aware of my role to help Ed and Thor,” stated the Sky Procycling rider. “I am using the Tour of Spain as preparation. The last two times I rode the Tour of Spain the form for the World Cup was good, thirteenth in Salzburg and twelfth in Mendrisio.”
It was reported that the Norwegian’s place in the team came at the expense of Alexander Kristoff. About the matter, Arvesen told procycling.no, “It is a pity for Kristoff as he has had good results this season. When we start with two medal candidates [Hushovd and Boasson Hagen], I still think it is right that the two should get full backing in the championship.
“Our job is to make the way to the finals as easy as possible for Edvald and Thor,” he added.
There have been concerns that team would be split in the championships according to their trade teams, as Arvesen and Boasson Hagen ride for Sky Procycling and Hushovd and Rasch both ride for Garmin-Cervelo, but the veteran cyclists made it clear that this will not be the case.
“I do not want to put it in and say that I am riding for Edvald and that Gabriel is riding for Thor. If it is Thor who has the best legs at the end, and Edvald struggling, he must also be prepared to do a job for the team. Of course the same applies the other way round.”
Arvesen recently confirmed his retirement from professional cycling at the end of the season with the championships likely to be his last race. He has won individual stages in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia during a strong thirteen year career.