04 February 2016
IAM Cycling
THE QUOTE
This is good for the team and for me. I have not made a very strong start this year. After that first sprint on Wednesday, which was one to forget for me, I felt more comfortable today, even if this is not my preferred type of arrival, Matteo Pelucchi confided at the end of the stage after having visited the doping control. I was on Bryan Coquards wheel for the finale. At the left hand turn with 250 meters to go to the line, I lost a few meters in the surge, and was not able to get them back.
THE EXPLANATION
Lionel Marie, who is the IAM Cycling directeur sportif at the 46th edition of lEtoile de Bessèges along with Thierry Marichal, was able to take pleasure in the second place finish for his sprinter. I am very happy for Matteo. This result should give him the confidence he needs for the races he has to look forward to on his program. The team worked really hard all day. We took our part in the responsibility of riding behind to reel in the breakaway with Oliver Naesen, Larry Warbasse, and Jonathan Fumeaux all doing some work. And those efforts paid off. Our only concern was that this type of circuit really isnt conducive to this sort of sprint finish, which I think is partly to blame for precipitating the crash in the final kilometer.
THE SPACE CASE
Sondre Holst Enger. When it came time to pedal off to sign in for the start of the stage, the young Norwegian took off on the bike of his teammate Larry Warbasse. Realizing his mistake after 300 meters or so, Holst Enger sheepishly returned to the bus to give back Warbasses bike and to take his own.
THE NUMBER
3 – The number of podium places IAM Cycling has earned since the beginning of the week. Leigh Howard opened the tally on Sunday morning with a second place finish at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race followed Sunday afternoon with Dries Devenyns victory at the GP La Marseillaise. And now Pelucchi makes it three.
Race pictures – BettiniPhoto©2016
