23 June 2014
IAM Cycling
The 2014 Tour of Switzerland ended with an extremely animated final stage from Martigny to Saas-Fee (156.5 km), which topped-out at just over 3500 meters above sea level.
The IAM Cycling riders ended up being the days major agitators, putting in a great team performance that help Mathias Frank net third on the stage and second place overall. But the Portuguese rider Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) succeeded in taking his third overall title in a row. He is in fact the first rider ever to win the Tour of Switzerland three times in a row. Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quick Step), who had lead the race from the first day, could not repeat his successful mountain defense from the day before, and slipped to fourth overall.
For Mathias Frank, this second place in the standings comes at the end of a very emotional week. After he became the father of his little girl Laura this past Monday, he struggled initially with fatigue, but was ready to play a decisive role by the weekends most important stages. Accordingly, Frank was pleased with his performance.
Todays stage was certainly not an easy one to tackle. But as a team, we delivered on a brilliant tactic, and the yellow jersey of Tony Martin was unable to follow. I am proud of my boys. Although we are only a smaller Pro Continental team, we performed well and are now known as the best team of this tour. My teammates did a great job. Especially
Marcel Wyss today was incredible the way he paced us in the final. The only problem we could not solve was how to get rid of the World Champion Rui Costa. On the one hand, he certainly benefited from our work, but on the other hand, he was just too strong for me in those last three kilometers. I tried my hardest and then made the best out of the situation. It was a very eventful week for me, and I am happy now that I can go home and spend time with my family.
His teammate Marcel Wyss delivered an amazing performance in the service of his captain. On the third to last climb, he attacked from the field and bridged up to the breakaway already established. Then he and Johann Tschopp, already in the first breakaway group, waited for Mathias Frank, who had attacked on the penultimate climb and quickly bridged up. Then it was up to Wyss to go full-throttle as he was determined to set-up Frank to be in the best position possible by the time they reached the Saas-Fee climb.
The task fell to Wyss to pace his team leader through the valley and up the early parts of the final climb in order to distance Tony Martin as much as possible. The plan worked, and Wyss eventually still managed to finish in 8th place on the stage.
General Manager Michel Thétaz was also very satisfied with the performance of his riders, especially Mathias Frank.
Mathias Frank has had a great week. I am 100% satisfied. Today we have not lost the overall, but we won second place.
There is little rest for the weary as the riders must turn their attentions this week to their respective national championships. The Swiss championships will take place on the 25th, 28th and 29th of June in Roggliswil, coincidentally Mathias Franks hometown.
