Dominic Klemme «In Tirreno, I am Matteo Pelucchi’s bodyguard»

Mark Cavendish has regained his legs within a week of Milan-San Remo.  With the mass gallop into Porto Sant’Elpidio, the Omega Pharma-Quickstep sprinter succeeded in marking his territory.

However, IAM Cycling experienced a day of mixed fortunes.  Thomas Löfkvist is sick and has returned home to undergo further tests.

Adding to that, Matteo Pelucchi found himself in difficulty and failed to keep pace with the hard-charging pack.

Meanwhile, Dominic Klemme (27) continues to work in the shadow of his leaders, performing tasks of support without complaint, even if the ultimate recompense would be to grab a victory or a lead in a classification to wear one of the distinctive jerseys at the end of a stage.

The rider from Bielefeld, Germany, confirmed his commitment.

“We have developed a strategy to promote the opportunities for our sprinter.  At Tirreno, I am Matteo Pelucchi’s bodyguard.  Along with Matthias Brändle, we are at his side, come what may.  Today, unfortunately, it didn’t work out as we had hoped.  But this does not keep us from sticking with him in the difficult times, picking up drinks and other supplies for him from the team car.”

Klemme, along with the rest of the racers at Tirreno-Adriatico, has enjoyed the weather which feels more like early summer (24°) along the Adriatic coast.  “I am equally comfortable with heat as I am with cold.  Suffice it to say that I have not been in difficulty.  But I recognize that it is definitely more enjoyable to be able to ride in these conditions than in the cold and rain.”