GP of Canton Aargau – David Tanner «It was a great day for the team»

THE STATEMENT

“This was a great day for the team,” David Tanner said after the race. “We were represented at the front of the race with Larry Warbasse in the break, and he was really strong today, since that was hardly an easy break to make. And then when it came to the finale, really every member of the team worked perfectly for me. I felt strong and the guys gave me great support for the sprint. I just missed out on the victory, but beating Nizzolo in a sprint is never easy. I am happy that I was able to be at the front, and was able to give the best of myself. I have not had the best year so far, but today was great with an excellent team effort, and I hope that more good results for the team will follow.”

THE BREAKAWAY

Larry Warbasse spent practically the entire day at the front of the race in Gippingen. Along with 13 other riders, Warbasse broke away from the pack on the second of ten laps, and then was reeled in with only half a lap to go until the finish. “It was difficult today to get into the leading group,” Larry Warbasse explained. “In the first lap, there were tons of attacks, because everyone wanted to make it into the breakaway. Of course our goal was to have someone in the break as well, and I am glad I was the one who made it. Everyone in the breakaway group worked well together, and so we made good progress. But the field never gave us too much space, and kept us constantly under control. Not surprisingly, we were never able to get enough time and unfortunately were scooped back up in the final round. For the sprint, the team was able to work for Tanner, and he succeeded in grabbing third place. So that was a good day for us.”

THE COMMENT

“We had a strong race, and we were always present in the moves, just as we had planned,” Marcello Albasini, directeur sportif, explained after the race Thursday night. “With Larry, we were able to be represented in the strong breakaway group, though the field still held it on a tight leash. Then we wanted to have a good place in the final sprint, and with that objective, the team again lived up to expectations. Tanner’s third place is a great result. Our idea was to go into the final either for Tanner or Martin Elmiger, depending on who had the better legs. In rising to this challenge, they uncorked a great team performance, which was rewarded with this strong result for Tanner. I am pleased with this achievement.”

Podium Picture – Elisa Haumesser

Sprint Picture – BettiniPhoto