TNT Sports
Thor makes Tour history
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Published 05/07/2004 at 20:23 GMT+1
Thor Hushovd put Norway on the cycling map when he took the Tour de France yellow jersey after the second stage on Monday. The 26-year-old Credit Agricole rider, who won a stage in Bourg-en-Bresse two years ago, has become the first Norwegian to lead cycl
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"When you're a rider, the yellow jersey is the biggest thing you can have on your shoulders. Today I've become a big rider," he said. "I'd been dreaming of taking the yellow jersey for, I don't know, 15 years."
"Since the prologue, I realised it was within reach."
Hushovd, who always showed great promise since arriving in France to ride as a professional, changed his approach this season and decided to practice at home with Atle Kvalsvoll, a former team-mate of three-times Tour winner Greg LeMond.
"We made lots of little changes in the winter. I'm older and 26 is often the age when you start reaching your full potential," said Hushovd, who also changed his diet.
"It paid off since I used to finish between fourth and sixth in sprints in the past and now I'm in the top three," he said.
Hushovd, who emerged as one of the best sprinters in the bunch this season with stage wins in the Dauphine Libere, now hopes to complete a perfect Tour by winning a stage.
"Tomorrow (Tuesday) would be ideal. I was third and second, now I'm going for first place," he said.
Hushovd's main goal on this Tour is to win the green jersey as the best sprinter, though he also hopes his performances will further encourage cycling in his homeland.
"For the past four or five years, cycling has been getting more popular in Norway. Norwegians start understanding it's a big international sport.
"Cycling is big in Norway, After this Tour, it could get bigger."
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