Tirreno-Adriatico – IAM Cycling will support Jarlinson Pantano –

THE OBJECTIVE

As the third World Tour race of the year, the Race Between Two Seas is one of the first big goals for IAM Cycling in the 2016 season. And for directeur sportif Kjell Carsltröm the objectives for the Swiss team are clear: “We want to win a stage and be among the top-10 in the final classification of the race,” the Finish DS claimed. “Our strongest rider should be Jarlison Pantano, and we will place him well for a chance to fight for the general classification. The team’s sports management believes in his abilities. His results in the Algarve and in Lugano prove that he is already in good condition. We plan to make the most of it. But our team will also have a few riders who will have a free hand to be able to get up the road and play for a stage win. We will be prepared to adapt ourselves to the various race scenarios.”

THE SAGE

Marcello Albasini, IAM Cycling’s trainer, explains the fitness conundrum: “If we are heading to the event with the notion of racing to win Tirreno, then the rider has to arrive at 100% of his form. It’s not like a three week race where you can expect to come a little lacking in fitness and improve over the course of the many stages. Seven days is too short for that. However, it is essential that a ride does not start the race already feeling some signs of fatigue. Freshness is essential along with having optimum form; and that goal is the real challenge.”

THE RECONNAISSANCE

On Tuesday, March 8th, the IAM Cycling riders will recon the team time trial course that will kick off the event. Designed on a completely flat 22.7 km circuit, the first stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico could be decisive. “Differences could definitely be made there, and that could change the whole situation,” Carlström confirmed. “We have a good team for this kind of exercise, and it will be the first time we have taken part in a team time trial this season. We will find our mojo again.”

THE REHEARSAL

The fourth stage. The day before the queen stage, the fourth stage will cover 222km between Montalto Di Castro and Foligno. As the longest day of racing so far this year, it will provide an excellent warm-up for riders who will be participating in Milan-San Remo (291 km) later this month.

THE NUMBER

3 – This is the number of days that separate the finish of Tirreno-Adriatico and the start of La Primavera, the first monument of the season: Milan-San Remo.

LINE-UP Tirreno-Adriatico

Race pictures – BettiniPhoto©2016