WEVELGEM, Belgium, April 8, 2009 (AFP) – Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen won the 71st edition of the 203km Gent-Wevelgem cycling road race here on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old out-paced Aleksandr Kuschynski of Belarus in a sprint finish, with Matthew Goss (Saxo Bank) claiming third place ahead of Australian compatriot Mathew Hayman (Rabobank).

A group of 14 riders formed a breakaway from the leading pack with 50km of the race remaining, before Kuschynski (Liquigas) made the first solo break following the second ascent of the cobbled Kemmelberg climb.

Kuschynski was quickly pursued by Boasson Hagen (Columbia), with the pair opening up a lead of over a minute prior to the flat 32km run-in to the finish.

In heavy drizzle the mud-splattered pair duelled it out down the final stretch, before Boasson Hagen exploited a moment of hesitancy from the Belarussian to dash away from him and claim victory.

Photo by: CorVos Pro