The quietly spoken Edvald Boasson Hagen is arguably the most talented young cyclist in the world. Just 22, the Norwegian has already won some major races, including the Ghent-Wevelgem classic in 2009, but many observers agree that his potential is enormous.

It is difficult, at this early point in his career, to pigeonhole Boasson Hagen - or 'Bo Hagen' as he is known to some of his Sky team-mates. He appears to have the ability to win any race, in any terrain. And while he says that in 2010 the spring classics will be his major target, he also fancies riding the Tour de France for the first time. It is a race he could eventually ride to win - that is how good he could be.

Boasson Hagen is a complete, all-round rider in the style of the greatest cyclist ever, Eddy Merckx. Not that Boasson Hagen would compare himself to the greats - indeed, he might not even be able to name them. Which explains why, when asked to identify his hero, he struggles to name anybody.

"I'm really bad at remembering names or [cycling] history," smiles Boasson Hagen. "I know who Eddy Merckx is, and that he was really good, but I don't know his results.

"I love cycling," he continues. "But I don't like watching it. When it's on TV I might watch the final, but I won't sit for hours. And I don't watch other sports. I've never had any heroes. I have just always loved doing it."

Boasson Hagen began racing mountain bikes when he was nine, and at 15 switched to road racing. Coming from the winter sports mecca of Lillehammer he was also a cross-country skier, an activity he still pursues as off-season training at home in Oslo.

"It's hard to say what races I will do best in," says Boasson Hagen. "I want to do both the [one-day] classics and tours, actually. But I will try the classics first - I like the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Ghent-Wevelgem - I like the cobbles. With Sky we have a strong team for the classics, and I think we will have great results."