Edvald Boasson Hagen, the Norwegian with 81 pro victories on his palmares, has become a late signing for French World Tour team Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale.
The 36-year-old will lead out Ireland's Sam Bennett in the sprints as well as bringing general strength to the team, including beefing up its classics line-up.
News that Boasson Hagen has been signed by the team is very positive for Bennett. He faced going into the season in a line-up from which it was impossible to pick out the riders who may be able to even cobble together a lead-out.
And though the Norwegian's best years are behind him, he is still a very experienced rider with the type of power that can be harnessed to bring Bennett into position or launch him in a sprint.
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That is a vital skill, especially as Bennett has designs on returning to the Tour de France to win more stages.
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Vincent Lavenu, boss of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, said the team had availed of a "great opportunity" to sign Boasson Hagen, who rode for TotalEnergies for the last three seasons.
"Edvald has great experience and has achieved many successes. I have been following him since he was an amateur where he was already one step ahead of the other competitors," Lavenu said.
"Its mission is very clear: it strengthens the classics group. His experience will be valuable in placing our leaders at the right time but also during the mass sprints where he will be able to lead Sam Bennett's train in the last kilometers of the race."
Boasson Hagen, who first lined out for a UCI team back in 2006, said he was “really happy to have had the opportunity to join" Bennett at the French team.
"It is part of the history of cycling and it is a very solid team. I joined the group two days ago for the second training camp in Spain. It's an opportunity for me to meet my teammates, the staff and discover my new equipment," he said.
"I am coming to strengthen the spring classics group with the aim of serving the team in order to achieve the best possible results. I also want to pass on all my experience to the younger riders and achieve one last professional victory."
