Milan-San Remo – Sylvain Chavanel «I don’t have the burst of speed to challenge the pure sprinters»

Milan-San Remo has experienced seriously difficult weather conditions for the third year in a row.  The rain and cold accompanied the riders for more than five hours.  In a dangerous final and after a race that was nervous in the face of multiple crashes, John Degenkolb (Giant Alpecin) managed to pull off a terrific victory in front of all the favorites and specialists on the famous finishing straight.  In spite of strong tactics and everyone’s best efforts, IAM Cycling failed to have a player competing for the win.  The best finisher of the Swiss professional team, Sylvain Chavanel, came in 23^rd place in the front group which contained the overall winner.  At the other end of the spectrum, David Tanner suffered among a group of crashers on the descent off the Capo Berta, and ended the day at Imperia Hospital.  Luckily X-rays to his thigh revealed no fracture.  According to the doctors, his future program will be evaluated according to his level of pain and how well the wound on his knee heals.

Still shivering with the cold despite a hot shower, Sylvain Chavanel spoke of the weather, as well as the strength of the sprinters on the Via Roma.  “The 2015 edition resembled the past two in terms of weather.  We suffered a lot of rain and cold.  And when it came time for us to turn on the gas on the three capi, the muscles were paralyzed.  Everyone had big legs.  I managed to stay with the first group, but on the Poggio, there was no chance for me to try anything other than follow the pace, which was very fast.  I tried to make a go of it in the final thrust for the line.  Unfortunately I do not have the burst of speed that was needed to get close to the sprinters.”  Meanwhile, Heinrich Haussler was not able to be among the best when they were revving up for the finale.  The Australian champion explained his situation.  “A mass crash happened on the Cipressa and it split the peloton in two.  I was in the second part.  I tried to regain my position on the flat along with the rest of the riders, but it was nearly impossible.  We were never able to get back on terms.  This is part of the hazard of the race.”

Kjell Carlström, directeur sportif for IAM Cycling along with Marcello Albasini, sounded a slightly fatalistic note.  “We lacked that little boost of luck to have a better showing.  In fact, the guys all road to their limit and did their fair share of work.  Vincente Reynes suffered a lot in the cold.  Jérôme Pineau, Jonas Van Genechten and Aleksejs Saramotins did an exemplary job and enormous amount of work.  David Tanner’s fall made us a little weaker and also a little less organized.  As for Heinrich, he was never able to rejoin the front after being delayed by a crash on the Cipressa.”