05 April 2016
IAM Cycling
THE PODIUM PLACE
Sondre Holst Enger. The young Norwegian rider sprinted in the finale to take second place from the main field, but since the peloton rolled in over two minutes behind the stage winner, Marc Fournier (FDJ), Holst Enger ended on the third step of the podium for the stage. It was a special stage. After the two riders broke away, no one initially wanted to take the initiative of chasing, Holst Enger explained. When we managed to catch only one of the two escapees by the finish, I focused on the sprint for second place. Only the Frenchman Bryan Coquard (Direct Energy) managed to pip Holst Enger at the line. I am satisfied with this third place.
THE ANALYSIS
Unfortunately, we did not place one of our riders in that two man breakaway, which is why we were forced to chase when the pursuit picked up, Lionel Marie, IAM Cycling directeur sportif said. The duo succeeded in taking an improbable seventeen minute advantage on the peloton, and with only six riders per team, it is not easy to regain control. The cooperation of several teams is needed. In the final, we tried something with Mathias Frank, and then Sondre Holst Enger was able to make a good sprint where he ended up second in the field.
THE ATTACK
It was a difficult day, Mathias Frank confided after the finish. When we knew that a stage victory was no longer an option, I put in an attack to make the finish that much harder. On the second to last climb, I launched my salvo with help from Vicente Reynes. Unfortunately, a large group came back together again at the finish. But then our young talented sprinter, Sondre, was able to put in a good performance.
THE UNLUCKY
Matteo Pelucchi. The Italian sprinter for IAM Cycling crashed after around 30 kilometers had been covered for the stage. He still managed to finish the race, but had to head to the hospital following the finish to get an accurate evaluation of his condition.
Picutres – © 2016 – La Sarthe
