16 July 2016
IAM Cycling
THE EXCLIMATION
From Martin Elmiger: If you are always at the back, you have no chance of winning.
THE ANIMATOR
Martin Elmiger. The valiant IAM Cycling road captain tried his luck by joining the days main breakaway along with three other riders, in spite of the strong winds which were gusting up to 60km/h. The escapees were never given more than five minutes by the peloton, and the last two fugitives managed to stay ahead up until the final four kilometers.
THE EXPLANATION
I have no regrets, Martin Elmiger explained. There are not many stages left that are suited to the baroudeurs and sprinters except for the arrivals in Bern and Paris. So I had it in mind to get into the break today. Although the finale was pretty much tailor made for the sprint specialists, you never know. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
THE FACT OF THE DAY
Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) won his fourth stage of the 2016 Tour de France after perfectly timing the sprint into the wind.
THE UNLUCKY
Mathias Frank. Suffering for some days with gastric problems that have hampered his ability to perform, the IAM Cycling leader has had to dismount in the feed zone.
THE MENU FOR THE DAY
With six categorized climbs, including one Hors category and two 1st category accents, the 15th stage that will travel 160 kilometers from Bourg-en-Bresse to Culoz should make the climbing specialists smile.
Race Pictures – BettiniPhoto
