Bayern Rundfahrt – Stage 5 – Eddy Seigneur «I could see a focused team, committed to its work»

(source: www.bayern-rundfahrt.com)

It was almost too easy for John Degenkolb (Giant Alpecin).  The German rider won at home in the streets of Nuremberg on the fifth and final stage of the Bayern Rundfahrt.  In this final showdown among the sprinters, Jonas Van Genechten also jumped into the melee to defend the IAM Cycling colors and grab a result for himself.  As the eighth rider to cross the line on Sunday, the Belgian earned himself another top-10 finish, which is his fourth of the race.  But the Swiss team did not stop there.  Well positioned since the beginning of the week, Larry Warbasse also garnered the Swiss team a spot in the top-10 on the overall.  Having put in a strong effort for Saturday’s time trial, the American rider can boast an eighth place finish in the overall classification.

Five times in five stages, the team sponsored by Michel Thétaz took a place in the top-10, showing an encouraging regularity.  With a man in the top-10 everyday, Eddy Seigneur, the directeur sportif along with Mario Chiesa, has good reason to be proud of his riders.  “We finished very well on Sunday with Jonas Van Genechten, who succeeded in getting eighth in the sprint,” Seigneur said.  “The team waited for the sprint and tried to place our best sprinter.  Unfortunately he was blocked 200 meters from the line.  But hey, that’s part of the hazards of the race.  It was a rough but steady finish.  For me, the important thing to remember from the week in Germany is the fact that our guys were really present every day in the top positions.  Considering we had Jonas in the sprints, Patrick Schelling taking part in a great breakaway, and Larry Warbasse finishing 8th overall, I’m satisfied.”

“I saw a very focused team, with everyone applying himself to his work.  It was not an easy race for us either.  I would have preferred a more undulating course, with a summit finish, for example.  At times it seemed a little padlocked, but despite this, we managed to get our game on.  Overall, it’s a good recovery race, especially for Stefan Denifl. I congratulate him because he finished 22nd in the Bayern Rundfahrt after not racing for months and without all his knee pain that has plagued him since last season.  It’s very encouraging for the future, and I think that this result will allow him to go to his next races more serene.”