For a long time, it has been well-known that Edvald Boasson Hagen may be leaving Team Sky at the end of the season. Now Procycling.no reports that Astana is one of several teams to have shown interest and the Norwegian's manager says that there is a 50 percent chance that the rider will be riding in new colours in 2015.
Edvald Boasson Hagen was once regarded as cycling's biggest talent but since he joined Team Sky in 2010, his progress seems to have stalled. Despite winning two Tour de France stages, Vattenfall Cyclasscis and the GP Plouay and finishing second at the Worlds, the Norwegian has failed to win the big classic that many deemed him capable of.
This has led to speculation that Boasson Hagen will leave Sky at the end of the season to ride for a team where he may enjoy a bit more freedom. He has done nothing to dampen the speculation himself and many regard his decision to ride the Giro d'Italia as an attempt to increase his market value.
Today Procycling.no reports that Astana has shown interest in the Norwegian star. According to the website, Astana manager Alexander Vinokourov has been in contact with Boasson Hagen's personal manager Birger Hungerholdt.
However, Hungerholdt refuses to confirm the information.
"I have been in contact with several teams but don't want to say any names. It is 50-50 whether he continues at Sky or not," he said.
While Astana have had a lot of success in stage races and the Ardennes classics, they have not had the same impact on the cobbled races. The addition of Boasson Hagen would be a major boost but could conflict with the Norwegian's wishes.
"I want to be at one of the best teams," he told Procycling.no earlier this year. "Now you have Tom Bonnen, Fabian Cancellara and Peter Sagan at three of the best teams. Then it is difficult to find a team where you are the only captain."
Hungerholdt hopes to have a solution in place before the start of the Tour de France.
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