23 September 2013
IAM Cycling
The 10th edition of the Tour of Britain ended with a stage in the heart of London. Tens of thousands of people enthusiastically welcomed the peloton through the 11 laps of the 8 kilometer circuit. And the ovation proved to be even more memorable for the winners of the day, first Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) for the stage, and then Sir Bradley Wiggins with the overall.
In this context and very British ending, the IAM Cycling team still pulled out a satisfying result with Matteo Pelucchi taking 4th place for the stage, along with the Swiss teams 2nd place in the team standing, and the points classification thanks to Martin Elmigers consistency throughout the week.
To top that off, the man from Zug in Switzerland snagged a remarkable 2nd place overall, just half a minute behind Wiggins, the darling of the British nation. Elmiger was delighted with his accomplishment, and spoke shortly before catching his plane to rejoin his wife and 2 month old little girl, Giulia, at home.
Martin Elmiger, is finishing in 2nd place behind the 2012 Tour de France winner more of a success for you than your recent victory at the Tour du Limousin?
A win is a win, and we always start to win. The victory in Limousin gave me a lot of confidence and satisfaction, but I am happier with the way I rode in the Tour of Britain. Regarding the result, the 2nd place becomes more valuable because we were racing 8 days with a time trial as well as the sprint stages and a summit finish at the top of a difficult climb.
On the eve of your 35th birthday (he was born September 23, 1978), do you think you are having your best season of your career as a member of Michel Thétazs IAM Cycling team?
I leave it for others to judge. It is true that I feel still a little too young to be back behind the wheel of a car working as a directeur sportif.
How do you rate the performance of the team in the Tour of Britain?
Everyone, including me, has gained experience. Not everything is perfect yet, but you dont build a team in one day. Everyone certainly pulls in the same direction. And we all enjoy each others company, drinking coffee together in the evening. In the stages it feels like everyone is working well together and for his teammate. This is the recipe for success and it made me happy to feel so strong for this event.
Can you explain the reasons for the great inaugural year that IAM Cycling has had in professional cycling?
At IAM Cycling everyone has a deep respect for Michel Thétaz. He leaves us considerable freedom in our work, and we want to return the favor by doing well. His support is a huge plus, and our success can largely be attributed to this.
How can the team improve, and what will help it improve and grow in 2014?
Recruiting riders like Chavanel and Frank will give us yet another dimension. Everyone is waiting to see what well do, since it is difficult to reaffirm the initial success of a first season. Though a guy like Sébastien Reichenbach was practically ready to quit cycling at the end of 2012 if IAM Cycling hadnt come along to give him a place, he is now recognized as one of the best riders with the brightest future, not only for our team but for all of Swiss cycling.
Wednesday you leave for Florence to race in the World Championships. What will your goal be in the Swiss team built around Fabian Cancellara?
I will definitely have the status as road captain for the team, but I am 100% committed to helping Fabian win. With my current legs, I can imagine that we will ride an excellent race.
