Patrick Schelling: «No top day at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes»

The Spanish champion Jesus Herrada Lopez (Movistar) and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) finished on the podium at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes.  The two men engaged in a compelling duel in the last stage leading from Ruelle-sur-Touvre to Poitiers.  If the Spaniard gave the impression of being able to take away the Frenchman’s leader’s jersey, Voeckler managed to defend his position with the help of his faithful teammates.

IAM Cycling, meanwhile, did it’s best to influence and impact the race.  Directeur sportif, Eddy Seigneur was satisfied with his riders.  “Patrick Schelling found the opening to take a part in the break of the day.  At the end of the stage we had Saramotins and Pelucchi for the sprint.  Having taken two podiums in the stages, and 5^th place overall for Gustav Larsson, we have fulfilled our contract.” 

It is noteworthy that in the bunch sprint, Aleksejs Saramotins and Matteo Pelucchi managed to finish 11^th and 12^th, respectively.

At only 23 years of age, Patrick Schelling has already become an important piece of the puzzle for the Swiss Pro Continental team.  Called to the race to fill in for Pirmin Lang who had an emergency in the family, the young pro has raced two 4 stage races in the space of 15 days.

“I am pretty happy with my performances.  We succeeded in defending Martin Elmiger’s yellow jersey at the Tour du Limousin.  Then I found myself a member of the team for the second race.  Unfortunately, I have not had a top day at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes.   Today, it was very hard to find the right breakaway group.  I did my best, but in the final when the Russians went to the front of the group, I had to let go.”

Recently at the Tour of Portugal, Schelling was nominated as the rider most deserving of a recovery break.  “I’ll rest a bit now before kicking off again at the Tour of the Jura and the Tour du Doubs in mid-September.»

photos / Etienne Garnier velofotopro.com