Clasica Almeria – Gone with the wind for IAM Cycling –

14 February 2016

IAM Cycling

 

Clasica de Almeria 2016 - 14/02/2016 - Leigh Howard (IAM Cycling) - Aleksei Tcatevich (Katusha) - Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling) - foto Luis Angel Gomez/BettiniPhoto©2016

THE QUOTE

“We planned to ride for Matteo Pelucchi,” the race winner for IAM Cycling, Leigh Howard, confided. “After all, he had already won here in 2011. But the day was very strange. Our plans had to change completely. The wind gusts were very impressive. Neutralizing the race proved to be a wise decision. In the final circuit, the wind was a constant. It kept changing directions, and it was very dangerous. It reminded me of the criteriums I raced when I was a younger rider in Australia. I am lucky to have had such a strong team around me. All I had to do was produce my main effort 150 meters from the line. Personally, I was in ideal conditions.”

Clasica de Almeria 2016 - 14/02/2016 - Leigh Howard (IAM Cycling) - foto Luis Angel Gomez/BettiniPhoto©2016

THE FEAT

Not one, but two IAM Cycling riders ended up on the podium at the Clasica Almeria. Aside from the winner Leigh Howard, the Swiss team could also rejoice in Aleksejs Saramotins taking third. “We stayed perfectly grouped up to the final 500 meters,” Latvian champion Saramotins explained. I lead Leigh Howard until about 150 meters from the finish. And he finished off the work in the most beautiful way. I simply played my role, and I am completely satisfied with third place. I was surprised no one followed us. The explanation is likely due to our good form, but also luck certainly had a hand. In any case, these are two excellent results for the team.”

Clasica de Almeria 2016 - 14/02/2016 - Leigh Howard (IAM Cycling) - Aleksei Tcatevich (Katusha) - foto Luis Angel Gomez/BettiniPhoto©2016

THE EXPLANATION

“Many riders did not want to head out for the race today,” directeur sportif Mario Chiesa said. “And who could blame them since the wind made it all very dangerous. We saw the effects as we were following them. After 35 kilometers, the peloton stopped because the weather just was not going to allow them to race more. The organization then decided to restart the race, but with just six laps of 3.5 kilometers each. We knew that between Pelucchi and Howard, we would have a very good chance to score a result. Being able to change tactics is also a strength of IAM Cycling’s.”

THE NUMBER

70km/h – This is the speed at which the strongest wind gusts were clocked during the Clasica Almeria on Sunday.

THE FALSE NOTE

Interested in maintaining the integrity of its race, the Clasica Almeria organizers, in conjunction with the UCI jury commissioners,were pretty hesitant to make a decision. Nearly 45 minutes elapsed between the peloton stopping and the decision by the organization to restart the race on the eventual circuit.

20160214094447 Kopie

Pictures –   BettiniPhoto©2016

Loading...