Carl Fredrik Hagen’s Impressive Comeback Results in Eighth Place in Stage 12 of La Vuelta
Carl Fredrik Hagen, the Norwegian climber, showcased his strength and determination in stage 12 of La Vuelta after recovering from a bad crash in the first week of racing. Hagen joined the breakaway with two teammates and finished in eighth place, highlighting his resilience.
In a post-race interview, Hagen expressed his satisfaction with his performance, saying, “I am happy with my performance today. My teammates and I made it into the right move, and on the final climb, I felt strong.”
Hagen described the challenging process of establishing the breakaway, stating, “There were so many attacks that I lost count of them. It was just one after the other.”
Israel – Premier Tech, determined to make it into the escape group, saw 32 riders go up the road, including Omer Goldstein, Paddy Bevin, and Hagen. Hagen commented, “I was happy that we got in the break with the three of us. We timed our attack well.”
With a mountaintop finish, the Israeli team focused on Hagen, as the climb suited him better than the others. He steadily advanced up the final climb, following behind Richard Carapaz, Wilco Kelderman, and Jay Vine.
When the road turned left onto a steep section, Hagen made his own rhythm and attempted to follow the attacks. However, he soon realized that Carapaz and Kelderman would be battling it out for the stage victory.
Despite his recent crash, Hagen finished in an impressive eighth place, 1 minute and 23 seconds behind Carapaz. Reflecting on his journey, Hagen said, “Knowing from where I come from, I am even getting a little bit emotional. It has been a long process, and it is not over yet.”
Carl Fredrik Hagen’s performance in stage 12 of La Vuelta showcases his incredible resilience and determination to overcome adversity.
