Disease could end Norwegian’s Tour hopes
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) has been struck down with a case of shingles, according to Procycling.no. The Norwegian rider was named in Team Sky’s nine-man Tour roster yesterday, but the diagnosis of the disease, which is borne by the same virus as chicken pox, could put his appearance in jeopardy.
“He doesn’t feel sick, but it’s a disease that he must take seriously,” Boasson Hagen’s manager Birger Hungerholdt told Procycling.no. “We’re hoping he’ll be better soon.
“Edvald is taking it calmly,” he added. “There’s nothing he can do about it, but it’s something he has to deal with. Obviously, he’s disappointed; he was looking forward to the national championships road race, and it’s not good for the Tour de France.”
Boasson Hagen has enjoyed a period of good results recently, after a number of disruptive injuries; he won the first stage and took three third places in last month’s Bayern-Rundfahrt, then took a third and a second place in the Critérium du Dauphiné; yesterday he won the Norwegian time trial championship for the fifth successive year.
This success has been off the back of a spring campaign disrupted by three broken ribs, sustained after he collided with a tree in the Scheldeprijs; last spring was similarly affected by an inflamed Achilles tendon.
“There’s no doubt [he’ll miss the national road race],” said Hungerholdt. “He had this issue last year and was injured again. Now he was coming into great shape after coming back from injury problems. Of course it’s a hard knock, but its part of the game.”
The 24-year-old beat his nearest rivals by more than two minutes in Thursday morning’s time trial, which is why his condition has come as something of a surprise.
“We’re very surprised,” said Hungerholdt. “He felt fine yesterday and seemed unaffected at the finish.”
According to the Norwegian national team doctor Stein Ørn, there should be nothing to prevent Boasson Hagen from starting the Tour de France next week.
“If there is nothing else behind this,” said Ørn, “it should not threaten his starting the Tour de France. Anyone can get this, but the disease often affects older people. It is nevertheless something that anybody can catch, regardless of age.
“It’s usually no big deal,” he added.
According to an official comment on the Team Sky Facebook page, the decision has not yet been made to replace Boasson Hagen in the Tour team.