Paris-Roubaix – Michel Thétaz: «An extraordinary experience»

During Sunday’s Hell of the North, Michel Thétaz found himself at the heart of the action.

One of the advantages of being the founder and CEO of IAM SA (IAM Investment Funds) as well as IAM Cycling is that he was able to claim a place in the team car driven by Directeur Sportif Eddy Seigneur; from there he had a front-seat view of the 111^th Paris-Roubaix, won in gutsy fashion by perennial favorite, Fabian Cancellara.

As both a team owner and a fan, Thétaz appreciated the spectacle and physical exploits of all the racers who had to work their way over the 27 sector of cobbles, chewing the dust of the road.

Michel Thétaz, did the race live up to your expectations?

It was an extraordinary experience.  I was really in the middle of the action which gave me a new appreciation for the difficulty of the race, as well as the total commitment of the riders throughout the day.  The guys fought hard to rally in order to make it to the velodrome, while breathing in all the dust and suffering greatly rattling their bodies over the cobblestones.

What is your assessment of the overall performance of IAM Cycling?

Once again, I am completely satisfied with the team.  IAM Cycling continues to demonstrate that they are a strong group of riders who have deserved every one of the Wild Card invitations they have received.  We really have worked hard to be at the forefront of World Tour events.  Now that this first part of the spring campaign is over, we will begin to focus on our next goals.

How do you rate the specific results of your riders?

Heinrich Haussler was a strong 11^th.  There is not much to complain about that in such a difficult race, where finishing is often the main goal of most riders.  As a support crew, Bandiera, Elmiger and Hinault gave very strong examples of their capabilities, and did a lot of work for our leader, particularly after getting through the Arenberg.  As for Goddaert, Klemme, Larsson and Saramotins, luck was not on their side for the race, but after all it is Paris-Roubaix, and that it part of the challenge and spectacle too.

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