20 July 2016
IAM Cycling
THE FACT OF THE DAY
IAM Cycling earned two places in the top-10 of the stage that ended in the Valais, homeland to Michel Thétaz, founder of IAM Cycling, thanks to the superb 2nd place of Jarlinson Pantano, and Stef Clements 8th place.
THE EXCLIMATION
As given by Jarlinson Pantano. I lost to someone who was stronger than me, but I will try again because I am feeling better and better.
THE EXPLANATION
Again according to Jarlinson Pantano: It was a very hard stage because the break was allowed to go only after 70 kilometers of racing, and we never knew any respite. So I am very happy with this 2nd place, and the prize as the most aggressive.
THE QUOTE
The hardest thing for me to deal with today was not the heat, but the fact that I broke my shoe ratchet early in the stage, explained Stef Clement. And since we were racing the whole time à bloc, I never had the chance to change it.
THE NUMBER
40 – In km/h, that is the average speed posted by Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha), winner of the 184.5 km mountain stage. The first hour saw the peloton racing at over 50km/h average.
THE ANALYSIS
From Michel Thétaz. The Tour de France is not over, but I would certainly have agreed beforehand to walking away with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in stages of the Grande Boucle. And in addition to that, today offers very particular emotions for me since we have finished in the Valais.
THE SITUATION
According to Rik Verbrugghe. We did everything possible in order to be in the breakaway and show the jersey. The team has remained on the offensive since the beginning of the Tour, and we will continue to try and stir up a few surprises before the finish in Paris.
THE MENU FOR THE DAY
A 17 kilometer uphill time trial from Sallanches to Megève over the côte de Domancy awaits the riders, and will not be an easy task considering many of them will have had their strengths blunted over the course of 17 stages.
Pictures – BettiniPhoto & Sirotti
