Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka)
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Ian Stannard won at the Omloop last year (pic: Sirotti)
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Ian Stannard rolls out as defending champion for Team Sky (Pic: Sirotti)
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Niki Terpstra won the Tour of Qatar for the second year running to kick-start his season (Pic: Bruno Bade)
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If you want to win in Roubaix, you're going to need a bike that can stand up to the beating it'll take over the cobbles (Pic: Sirotti)
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Greg van Avermaet, pictured at the Eneco Tour, is the new race leader at Tirreno-Adriatico (Pic: Sirotti)
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Edvald Boasson Hagen has had the chance to re-ignite his career at MTN-Qhubeka (Pic: Bruno Bade/ASO)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka)
Edvald Boasson Hagen has been given a fresh start with MTN-Qhubeka after five seasons with Team Sky.
His third place at the 2014 Omloop, in support of Stannard, was one of his best results last season and the Norwegian has proved himself capable on the cobbles before with Gent-Wevelgem victory in 2009.
However, Boasson-Hagen has struggled to assert himself in the Classics on the regular basis and this weekend’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad could be the race in which he re-ignites his career after seeing his star quality fade in the last 12 months.
Boasson Hagen will fancy himself to out-sprint most riders if he finds himself in the front group as the race reaches the denouement.
MTN-Qhubeka spent heavily on new riders over the winter and, with a debut Tour de France on the horizon, the team will be hoping that investment pays dividends – starting here.