06 October 2014
IAM Cycling
Dan Martin surprised all the favorites on the descent to the finish line at the Tour of Lombardy. The Garmin-Sharp rider won solo after some 260 kilometers of a difficult and selective race through Lombardy and Piemonte.
IAM Cycling once again found itself at the forefront with Matthias Brändle as a member of a breakaway that was at the sharp end of the race for over 200 kilometers, while Sébastien Reichenbach was able to hang with the best until 5 kilometers to go.
Having ended up in 29th place 46 back, Reichenbach was pleased with his performance despite having suffered on the final climb.
I did not have that good of legs early in the day. As the kilometers passed, I started to feel better and better. I could even stay with the best on the longer climbs. Of course in the end I was dropped, but it was on the descent and I started to feel tired. When the favorites really gave it everything on that ultimate climb, I just had no legs. Then I suffered from cramps in the final. I am not yet accustomed to racing for distances over 250 kilometers. I finished as well as I could and my time loss isnt that important. These are the sorts of races where I really gain valuable experience. Today I have finished my season, but I will continue to ride until the end of the month to take advantage of the good conditions.
Directeur sportif today for the last race of Thomas Löfkvists career, Kjell Carlström was happy with the work of his riders.
We managed to get into the break with Brändle. This way, our other riders were able to rest for as long as possible. But this is the Tour of Lombardy, and there is no real respite. Today the peloton did not let up for a second and with the heat, the guys were suffering. Many riders on many teams were complaining of cramps. Johann Tschopp and Mathias Frank stuck in the front group on the longest climb, and Sébastien Reichenbach managed to keep his position until the moment the favorites attacked on the Bergamo climb.
