– It’s totally unique, young national team coach Kai Lexberg tells NRK about Hagenes.
The 18-year-old was absolutely superior at the end of the junior road race in WC.
With six kilometers left for the course, Hagenes decided to jointly start with a show of strength. Thus, he won Norway’s first medal in the World Cup in cycling so far.
BLANK IN EYES: Kay Lixburg was clearly moved when he talked about gold today and Bear Strand Huggins.
Photo: Gunnar Brathammer/NRK
Lexberg, who has worked with the junior national team since 2013, and at NTG Kongsvinger before that, has seen his share of Norwegian cycling talent.
When asked about Hagenes’ talent, he first and foremost highlights his physical and mental fitness, but he’s also an impressive drive after varied training from cross-country skiing, among other things.
At least, the 18-year-old has extraordinary pedaling power for his age.
– That move as a kid… The only thing we’ve seen at that age is probably Thor (Hushofd). Maybe we should go there. We know how it ended, and then we’ll see how it goes – without putting too much pressure on him. Lexberg tells NRK that it’s important to have good people around him, because that means the pressure to become the junior world champion.
TV 2 cycling expert Mads Kaggestad went so far as to call it “a gift from God”.
jerks plan
No one was able to keep up when Hagens decided.
First, he pulled a small group to the trio who ran away.
So, somewhat alone, he ensured that the nearby group had moved from three to seven passengers.
– I had to close the hatch to break. So I had to drive hard on the ground before as well. I was sitting there with three Frenchmen, so I knew it was going to be tough. But I also knew I had to take that turn first and go for it. I had a French guy at the wheel, but looking back I had a meter by a meter. After that it was just a matter of bending my neck and driving as hard as possible to the finish line, says Huggins in an interview shown on TV 2.
– Fully functional according to the book
Having lay in the group for a few kilometers again, he moved to the penultimate hill on the way. When he set in his flick, a coup d’etat went behind him.
Gold: Bear Strand Huggins riding his bike alone across the finish line in Belgium on Friday morning.
Photo: David Stockman/AFP
– He’s just running out of energy. It is operated tactically and fictionally by Hagenes. TV 2 bike expert, Mads Kaggestad commented on the TV 2 broadcast, that it saved energy all day.
From there and in, Hagenes drove on his own and had good control.
– He just flew behind the book. He had complete control along the way. Everything is going according to plan at the moment. Kajstad thought he only cried when he had to.
Thus, he also took the first ever Norwegian gold at the World Cup in the junior category.
– I knew it was possible when I saw the aisle profile. I know I’m good at such short slopes. I’ve done well on tracks like this before and this year. Making it happen is incredible. I was in bed yesterday and noticed I felt a high pulse when I thought it was possible to take the gold, says Huggins.
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