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Edvald Boasson Hagen of Columbia-HTC wins his second consecutive stage in the Tour of Britain
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Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen of Columbia-HTC won a second consecutive stage in the Tour of Britain Tuesday to move within one second of overall race leader, Kai Reus of Rabobank.
"We're close now and so we have to try and win overall," said Columbia team coach Valerio Piva.
"Edvald is on form, we've got a strong team here, and so why not? We've done it before."
Australia's Chris Sutton also moved within striking distance of the overall lead with his fourth consecutive top three finish in the 148-km circuit stage
around the Forest of Bowland.
Sutton is just five seconds adrift of the yellow jersey in third overall and now leads the points standings.
"It was a pretty good day for me overall and I have to be pleased with how things have gone so far this week," he said.
"It's been a great week for me so far and I had no intention of chasing the
GC when I got here. But now all the lads are telling me to go for it and give
it a go but we will have to see."
Sutton, who won Saturday's first stage in York, again paid tribute to Garmin teammate Bradley Wiggins — who played a critical role in dragging back a five-man breakaway in the closing kilometers.
"He was pushing 60kmh for a lot of the ride and I was telling him to slow down because I'd need him at the finish. But he just looked at me and said 'don't worry about it, I've got loads in the tank'."
Columbia took over command of the the peloton in the final kilometers and while a crash 500 meters from the finish scattered the peloton Boasson Hagen was ahead of it and got a perfect lead out from Tony Martin.
It was his 11th win of the 2009 season and the 79th victory for Columbia.
