04 April 2016
IAM Cycling
THE STATEMENT
We are primarily going there to win some stages, directeur sportif Lionel Marie said ahead of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe, where he will be working for the team with Rik Verbrugghe. This race offers opportunities for riders of all types, and we are bringing a varied group to accommodate the course. We have riders for the sprints, as well as guys who can climb, in view of the second to last stage. For the individual time trial, we will come with Coppel and Brändle, who are specialists looking for a good result. We will focus on the stages so that each of our riders can make an impression.
THE PROFESSIONAL
This will be Jérôme Coppels fourth participation at this French stage race. A week ago, he took a strong second place in the time trial at the Critérium International. Gaining the race rhythm in Corsica was very important for me after I had to drop out of Paris-Nice because of a flu. I have felt good this week and now am looking forward to this race. My main goal will be the time trial, and then depending on how that goes, and how my legs feel, perhaps then I can also start to think about a place in the general classification. Of course, we are also coming with Mathias Frank, who could definitely play a role in the overall standings. I am very confident, and we will just have to see how it goes.
THE RACE
Similar to the Critérium International, which was held over the Easter weekend, the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe will have two stages held on the same day. A shorter stage designated for the sprinters will unfold on Wednesday morning followed by a short individual time trial on Wednesday afternoon. Judging by the parcours, it is almost certain that the time trial Wednesday afternoon and the difficult stage on Thursday, which ends with a summit finish, will have to be the two deciding stages of the race for the overall standings.
THE MEMORY
IAM Cycling has had many strong results at the Cycliste the Circuit Sarthe in the past. In 2013, Matteo Pelucchi won a stage and finished third in another. Stefan Denifl also took second on a climbing stage and finished the race in fifth overall. In 2014, Mathias Frank took seventh place in the general classification. Nevertheless, IAM Cycling will not start off concentrating on aiming for the overall victory from the outset, according to Lionel Marie: With only six riders per team, it is not easy to control the race. Mathias Frank will certainly have a role to play as a main protagonist. For him it should be a good test to see how far his shape has developed since the Tour of Catalonia.
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