Michael Valgren Andersen has been one of the revelations of the 2014. Today he ended his great debut season by sprinting to fourth in the Japan Cup.

The final race on the Tinkoff-Saxo 2014 calendar, the 151.3 kilometer long Japan Cup, ebded in a small group sprint where the Danish national champion Michael Valgren finished fourth while Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp) was the fastest rider ahead of Edvald Boasson-Hagen (Sky).

The young Tinkoff-Saxo riders demonstrated great form during today’s final race on the undulating course in Japan. Michael Valgren finished 6th in yesterday’s criterium warm-up and today he entered the finish line in a select group to finish fourth. Teammate Christopher Juul-Jensen finished tenth.

Sports director Philippe Mauduit comments:

“Four Japanese riders created the long-lasting breakaway of the race and they were stronger than the peloton expected. Nevertheless, they were pulled back in and in the counter move, we had Rory Sutherland, Michael Valgren, Manuele Boaro and Chris Juul. With his usual fighter instinct, Manuele made life difficult for the chasers as he launched a few fierce attacks on the final kilometers. Ultimately forfeiting, Sutherland took over the reigns of the group to set up the sprint for Valgren and he managed to finish fourth. Of course, it’s always kind of frustrating being so close to the podium but I think the boys did a very good job and I’m happy to finish the season in the creative and dominant role of the race."