The 22-year-old Norwegian will serve as a domestique for one of the Tour de France favorites.

The Team Visma Lease a Bike selection for the Tour de France, the world’s biggest cycling race, came as a major surprise for the former cross-country skier Per Strand Hagenes.

Per Strand Hagenes from Sandnes, Norway, is one of eight riders set to compete in the Tour de France for the World Tour cycling team, Team Visma Lease a Bike. The former cross-country skier shared that the news came as a complete shock. 

“It was a huge surprise for me, but very exciting. It’s a great opportunity for me to ride for such a strong team,” Strand Hagenes said in an interview on the team’s YouTube channel.

May get to ride for his own chances

The 22-year-old Norwegian is described as “robust, loyal, and incredibly strong,” having served as a domestique for major stars in several stage races this season. 

Now he is preparing for the Tour de France, where Jonas Vingegaard is chasing his third victory. The Dane won the race in 2022 and 2023.

“He could be a key contributor in the team time trial (the opening stage) and a ‘bodyguard’ for Vingegaard in the peloton during the easier stages,” cycling expert Mads Kaggestad told TV 2.

However, Kaggestad believes there may also be opportunities for Strand Hagenes to ride for his own chances.

“If a free role becomes relevant when the overall competition is more established, I think he could also be in contention for stage wins if he is allowed to join a breakaway, similar to what we saw with Victor Campenaerts to Carcassonne last year.”

Also Read: Cycling for skiers: A valuable tool for summer training

Significant cross-country skiing talent

The 22-year-old from Sandnes has fully committed to cycling in recent years, securing a professional contract with top Team Visma Lease a Bike after winning gold at the Junior World Championships in 2021. 

Before he hung up his skis, Strand Hagenes made a strong mark in the Norwegian cross-country scene as a junior.

Strand Hagenes won the 10-kilometer freestyle at the Norwegian Cup for juniors in Lygna in 2020 with a 28-second lead. He also finished fifth in the 15-kilometer freestyle at the Holmenkollen junior race, where U23 world champion Mathias Holbæk took victory.

The story continues below.

Star-studded team

Among Strand Hagenes’ teammates at Visma Lease a Bike are Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss, Victor Campenaerts, and Edoardo Affini. 

All will play crucial roles as Jonas Vingegaard takes on the formidable Tadej Pogačar.

The Slovenian, who is also an avid cross-country skier, is aiming for his fifth Tour de France victory. Pogačar won the race in 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025. 

Read More: Former biathlete fighting at the top of the Tour de France

This year’s Tour de France starts in Barcelona on July 4 and concludes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on July 26. 

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