How the top talents fared in 2024: Per Strand Hagenes - already fully established in the first year
Sebastian Lindner
· 18.10.2024
Per Strand Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike) had to cope with a small drop of bitterness in 2024, his first season as a professional cyclist. Because he didn't manage one victory. The year before, he had three, including at the Münsterland Giro in the Pro Series. However, after a strong previous year, the 21-year-old Norwegian was simply too much in the focus of the competition to be given a free ride or to be underestimated.
What's more, the black and yellow Visma jersey always catches the eye of the peloton anyway. And Hagenes will continue to wear it until at least 2027. He extended his contract with his team at the beginning of September - a clear sign that the Dutch team was happy with its youngster.
Per Strand Hagenes: all-rounder with a penchant for classics
Hagenes delivered a stable season as a neo-pro and was primarily entrusted with support duties. However, when he was given a free hand, he also delivered results, especially on classic terrain, where even cobblestones are not detrimental to his results. The best example of this is the Antwerp Port Epic (1.1), which he finished in fifth place as captain of his team. At World Tour level, he even outdid his bosses Matteo Jorgenson and Tiesj Benoot at the Grand Prix de Quebec in Canada, finishing fifth. At the Renewi Tour, he was better than Benoot and Christophe Laporte and even finished the tour in third place.
The basis for this was a long day as a breakaway rider, which propelled him to the front on the infamous Geraardsbergen wall on the final day, and a solid time trial. Hagenes also has all-round qualities that could take the former cross-country skier and 2021 junior world champion a long way on the bike in a career that is only just beginning. He has certainly taken the first step.
