06 February 2013
IAM Cycling
A second place for our Italian sprinter Matteo Pelucchi, a good group work and a crash for Kevyn Ista – IAM Cycling’s Directeurs Sportifs on the Tour Mediterranean, Eddy Seigneur and Rubens Bertogliati, comment this first stage:
“It has been a very nervous start to the race, led early by a breakaway of three men. We had planned to place our sprinter Matteo Pelucchi, so we waited for things to settle.
We also knew that the team Lotto Belisol would ride for André Greipel and that’s what they did, they imposed a very high tempo to stabilize the group 3 minutes from the escape until about 10 kilometers from the finish.
Our men then protected Matteo Matteo well until the line and he takes a fine second place – I prefer the first places of course, but it’s good for the team and it’s good for the confidence.
I regret Kevyn Ista’s fall, a few hundred meters from the finish, he suffers from the elbow, he’s going through exams now to know exactly what he has.”
Eddy Seigneur
“I knew Matteo Pelucchi was going to do something today. Finally there are not so many occasions for pure sprinters in this race and this first stage was a goal for him.
He asked to come to France a little earlier not to be tired by the journey and we have done a little “back car” exercise yesterday morning to properly warm up. He rested well yesterday afternoon and his good training this winter has allowed us to maximize our chances today.
A second place behind André Greipel is a very good performance.
The rest of the group rode well too, I am now waiting for news of Kevyn Ista who fell 700 meters from the line.”
Rubens Bertogliati
