IAM Cycling manages the heatwave in the Tour of Portugal

“At the risk of repeating myself, I can say that it was still very hot.  Today the thermometer climbed to 42 degrees.  Yesterday, for the rest day, we had a relatively polite 38 degrees.  I hope for tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, which will be the two decisive mountain stages as well as the 31 kilometer individual time trial, that the mercury will show us a little mercy and come down some more.”

Kjell Carlström, one of the two IAM Cycling directeurs present at the race, stressed the importance of recovery during the Tour of Portugal which is still in the grips of a heat wave.

Considerate and caring, the IAM Cycling directeurs have brought with them equipment to help mitigate the effects of the heat.  When they reach the hotels at the end of each stage, the riders plunge their legs into some ice water baths for a few minutes.  That is exactly what they did at the end of today’s sixth stage, which had been reserved for the sprinters in the peloton.

After 180 kilometers of racing from Serta to Castelo Branco  the victory went to the sprinter Maxime Daniel (Saur-Sojasun), who marks this as his first win as a professional.

Kjell Carlström believes that the IAM Cycling best places of 10^th for Sébastien Hinault and 12^th for Reto Hollenstein do not adequately illustrate the strong work they did all stage.

“This was not a lucky finish for us.  Pliuschin rode himself inside out to help bring the escapees back to the pack.  Hollenstein then did a ton of work to help Hinault into a good position once we’d come under the flamme rouge.  But of course, all the other teams were interested in going for the victory as well.  So now we will focus on the next three decisive stages looking toward the potential of a final victory.  Marcel Wyss (currently 11^th overall) still has every chance.”