Tour de France, stage 9 – Mathias Frank – I did not have the legs to expect to finish higher in the finale –

10 July 2016

IAM Cycling

 

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THE EXPLANATION

As provided by Mathias Frank: “The team did a great job for me today. Stef Clement and Jerome Coppel went hard all day in the break. I worked to keep contact with the leaders for as long as possible. I really gave everything. However, my legs were not good enough to hope to finish much better in the finale. After my bad day yesterday, I am pleased to have found a good feeling again. And there will be more chances to go into a good break before the end of this Tour.”

Tour de France 2016

THE FACT OF THE DAY

Three IAM Cycling riders made it into the day’s main breakaway. Stef Clement, Jérôme Coppel, and Mathias Frank found the opening to go with another twenty-plus riders. The maximum time advantage they had over the rest of the peloton stretched out to 10’36”. Tom Dumoulin (Giant Alpecin) slipped away from the rest of his break companions with less than 10 kilometers to go to the finish in order to win the stage solo under a freezing downpour.

Tour de France 2016

THE QUOTE

“I went on the attack, hoping to serve as bridgehead for Mathias Frank in the final,” commented Jérôme Coppel, who was absorbed just before cresting the third of five categorized climbs of the day.

THE ANALYSIS

According to Stef Clement, who was a tireless and effective engine in the day’s breakaway. “IAM Cycling managed to close ranks after the difficulties we suffered yesterday. The team spirit has allowed us to pull together and put in some pretty strong performances, even if we weren’t playing for the win. This is encouraging and will make it possible for us to enter the rest day with a feeling of accomplishment.”

Tour de France - Stage 9

THE STORY

Arriving at the stage finish in pouring rain 32’03” after winner Tom Dumoulin, Jarlinson Pantano took the time to grab an umbrella, and finished his day with a big smile.

Tour de France 2016

THE WEATHER

The heavens reserved some unpleasant surprises for the riders. The sun proved to be less forceful for the first 170 kilometers of the stage, with the temperatures rising to 32 °. But it all ended very badly with heavy rain and even hail pounding the riders on their ascent of the final climb, which ended in Arcalis.

THE MENU OF THE DAY

The riders of the Tour de France will benefit from the first well-deserved rest day of the Tour after nine stages and passing through the Pyrenees. Nearly everyone will still spin the legs for one hour.

Tour de France 2016

Race Pictures – BettiniPhoto & Sirotti

 

PHOTO GALLERY IAM Cycling

Bildschirmfoto 2016-07-10 um 21.00.52

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