19 Aug 2021
Hayter returns to road action with a bang in Norway
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Ethan Hayter
Fresh from winning Olympic Silver in Tokyo, Ethan Hayter returned to road racing in the best way possible with a dominant win on day one at the Tour of Norway.
The opening stage up to Sokndal finished atop a five kilometre climb and Hayter rode the first half at his own pace, with teammate Filippo Ganna riding smartly to reel in the early attackers and set Hayter up.
Ganna - also racing on the road for the first time since his Gold medal on the track in Tokyo - looked imperious as he rode down the climbers, bringing the reduced bunch back together again with 2km to race.
It was then that Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe) attacked, with Hayter the only rider able to follow. He quickly got across to Schelling's wheel before easing round him inside the final 200m.
Ganna - also racing on the road for the first time since his Gold medal on the track in Tokyo - looked imperious as he rode down the climbers, bringing the reduced bunch back together again with 2km to race.
It was then that Ide Schelling (Bora-Hansgrohe) attacked, with Hayter the only rider able to follow. He quickly got across to Schelling's wheel before easing round him inside the final 200m.
Ethan Hayter
I had a few days off and a couple of good days training in rainy Manchester and that seems to have set me up well for today.
Ethan Hayter
"I knew that I'd just got a Silver medal in the Olympics so I'm going quite well, but it's a surprise. I had a few days off and a couple of good days training in rainy Manchester and that seems to have set me up well for today.
"It's crazy. It was a really hard day in the end. I felt alright at times but was suffering during certain sections of the race - but then I think everyone was. The breakaway was really strong and thankfully it just worked out in the finish. I can't believe it.
"I dropped down halfway up the climb and we got back on because they were looking at each other a bit. I saw Ide [Schelling] lining up his attack and when he went I hesitated a little bit, but still jumped after him and there was nobody behind. He was going really well and I couldn't really give him a turn to be honest. He rode for GC time which was perfect for me.
"It's an incredible place and this is now my fifth road victory this year. It's great."
"I knew that I'd just got a Silver medal in the Olympics so I'm going quite well, but it's a surprise. I had a few days off and a couple of good days training in rainy Manchester and that seems to have set me up well for today.
"It's crazy. It was a really hard day in the end. I felt alright at times but was suffering during certain sections of the race - but then I think everyone was. The breakaway was really strong and thankfully it just worked out in the finish. I can't believe it.
"I dropped down halfway up the climb and we got back on because they were looking at each other a bit. I saw Ide [Schelling] lining up his attack and when he went I hesitated a little bit, but still jumped after him and there was nobody behind. He was going really well and I couldn't really give him a turn to be honest. He rode for GC time which was perfect for me.
"It's an incredible place and this is now my fifth road victory this year. It's great."
Hayter will take the leader's jersey into tomorrow's gruelling second stage, supported by Ganna, Leonardo Basso, Jonathan Castroviejo, Luke Rowe and Ben Swift. The four-day race finishes on Sunday.
