Tour de Picardie – Sondre Holst Enger – In order to break through to the win, I have to concentrate more –

THE QUOTE

“I still have a lot to learn,” explained Sondre Holst Enger. “I think if I had been a little further forward in the final sprint, I could have gotten a much better result. But gradually, as the race go by, I am finding my place more. I know I have the abilities to do well in multiple situations. I can be competitive both during a completely flat finish or something more hilly. That’s an advantage. But in order to break through to the win, I have to concentrate more. The team helps me with this by placing really experienced riders around me.”

THE ANALYSIS

According to Eddy Seigneur: “We wanted to fly the colors of IAM Cycling proudly at the Tour of Picardy,” the team’s directeur sportif admitted. “And we succeeded in doing just that. First good point is that we were continually in the breakaways with Clément Chevrier, Simon Pellaud, and Pirmin Lang. Then I would like to emphasize the excellent work that Jonas Van Genechten, Oliver Naesen, and Aleksejs Saramotins did regarding the preparation and approach to the sprint finishes. And then finally, Sondre Holst Enger was able to take full advantage of the collective work done by IAM Cycling. With two podium places, it seems he just needs a little more confidence. He is a real jewel. Sondre once again has shown what a promising future he has.”

THE NUMBER

3 – Thenumber of podium positions Sondre Holst Enger nabbed in the Tour of Picardy. Having taken third on Friday, and second in the stage on Sunday, the Norwegian rider also succeeded in finishing second overall in the race. That is the first time he has finished on the podium in a stagerace in the professional ranks.

THE ESCAPEE

Pirmin Lang. “Getting to the front, getting into the breakaways, that’s my job,” the Swiss rider said. “Of course, I can also help out set up the sprint in the last five kilometers. But here we had the type of guys who arereally strong enough to help out Sondre. I am satisfied with my day. If I was not able to make it into the early break, I had to attack in the final.   In the end, I was able to spend the stage at the front. I gave it everything.”

Pictures – Bruno Bade (tourdepicardie.fr) & IAM Cycling