31 January 2016
IAM Cycling
THE HERO
Dries Devenyns. Winless since his victory on July 9, 2009 at the fifth stage of the Tour of Austria, the Belgian puncheur brought IAM Cyclings first win of the season, which is the second year the Swiss team has been a member of the World Tour. The teams last victory dates back to Jonas Van Genechtens victory at the end of the third stage of the Eurométropole on October 2, 2015.
THE QUOTE
“I have waited for this victory for a long time, too long, Dries Devenyns exclaimed at the finish of the race. I was motivated and have been able to train well throughout the winter. In the sprint, I got out of the saddle to give the impression that I was launching, and then Thibaut took the lead. I managed to get back onto his wheel and gave everything I had left in my legs to edge him on the line. I had the heart to win because the entire team was really tremendous today. We definitely rolled up our sleeves and it paid off.
THE EXPLANATION
For his first victory as a directeur sportif for the IAM Cycling team, Lionel Marie was as much in a mood to celebrate as the riders. The Frenchman Marie took care to emphasize the excellent work that all the riders for the only Swiss team in the World Tour accomplished. We did everything right. Jérôme Coppel was tasked to work on the ascent of the route des Crêtes. And when Pinot, Bardet and company overtook him, Dries managed to put in a decisive attack, so much so that only Thibaut Pinot was able to find the strength to bridge up to him. And waiting behind the action, our guys were in a position to take their chance if the need arose.
THE TRUMP CARDS
Jonathan Fumeaux, Reto Hollenstein, and Clément Chevrier. Coming in strong at 16th, 21st, and 23rd, respectively, just 42 seconds back, the Franco-Swiss Valais trio performed perfectly in the roles of watch dogs in the chase group behind Dries Devenyns and Thibaut Pinot.
THE UNLUCKY
Heinrich Haussler. As the appointed leader in case of a sprint finish, the Australian was unable to join up with the pack of favorites due to a puncture that occurred right at one of the key moments of the race.
THE ANECDOTE
If Dries Devenyns can now add the GP La Marseillaise to his palmarès riding for IAM Cycling, he is not the only member of the team to have done so. Eddy Seigneur, current directeur sportif for the Swiss team, already found success at the same race in 1993 having taken second behind Didier Rous.
THE NUMBER
5785 – That is the amount of money in Euros that Dries Devenyns received on the podium for his victory, in addition to the jersey as the current leader of the Coupe de France for 2016.
Credit race pictures: Garnier
