DiData’s Boasson Hagen wins stage

Edvald Boasson Hagen outshone world champion Alejandro Valverde and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas to win the opening time-trial of the Tour of Valencia on Wednesday.

A swathe of elite cyclists have chosen this five-day race as part of their early-season bid to get back to top form.

Boasson Hagen of the SA Dimension Data team completed the 10.2km run through the town of Orihuela, past sunkissed orange groves and up a short, sharp final climb to a seminary in 12min 54sec.

Astana’s Spanish rider Ion Izagirre was 5sec behind in second, with Germany’s former time-trial world champion Tony Martin third at 6sec.

LAST CLIMB

“It was really nice to finally win again, I was nervous with Valverde and Geraint and I was watching them come up the last climb,” said Boasson Hagen. “Now I’ll take it day by day, I’ll fight as much as possible to keep the lead.”

Thomas suffered up the last climb but managed a handy 13min 15sec to finish 11th and give himself a chance of overall victory.

Dutchman Niki Terpstra, freshly signed for French outfit Direct Energie and winner of the Tour of Flanders last season, finished outside the top 10 after setting a fast pace in the plains.

Valverde crossed the line eighth quickest, 14sec adrift, while the 32-year-old Irishman Dan Martin, leader of the UAE Team Emirates, flew up the last climb with astonishing verve to come 10th at 19sec.