Boasson Hagen out of Flanders with tendonitis

Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen has pulled out of riding Sunday's Tour of Flanders due to a persistent Achilles injury.

After consulting with its medical team, Sky's management decided that it would be prudent for the Norwegian to skip Flanders in order to be fit for Paris-Roubaix. Boasson Hagen was due to lead Sky's squad during Sunday's Classic.

"He is on the right road to recovery, but since he still has some problems with his Achilles, we're not taking any risks," said Sky team manager Scott Sunderland.

"By doing so, he'll still be able to train progressively on Paris-Roubaix and hopefully be able to make his mark there."

Boasson Hagen was less than happy with his continued injury. "This is clearly not what I had hoped for, but I'm very hopeful that I have a good chance of getting ready for Paris-Roubaix and that race is still a very big goal for me," he said. 

Boasson Hagen has been replaced in Sky's Flanders line-up by Greg Henderson, who joins Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Michael Barry, Juan Antonio Flecha, Mathew Hayman, Ian Stannard, Chris Sutton and Geraint Thomas.

Earlier on Wednesday, Heinrich Haussler confirmed that he, too, will skip the Tour of Flanders due to injury.

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