17 June 2016
IAM Cycling
THE ACHIEVEMENTS
Those of Jarlinson Pantano, who took a great fourth place on this queen stage and now sits in fifth place overall; and then also Matthias Brändle, who was awarded the prize as most combative for the stage having spent nearly the entire day off the front of the race before being pulled back with less than six kilometers to go to the finish line. To top it all off, Martin Elmiger succeeded in defending his position as the best placed Swiss rider, and will again wear the distinctive jersey awarded by the Tour de Suisse tomorrow.
THE ESCAPE
Matthias Brändle. Riding through what is practically his back garden in Vorarlberg, the Austrian on IAM Cycling managed to power a breakaway with two other riders. Very generous with his efforts, the former world hour record holder found the strength to stay off the front for more than 210 kilometers until he was reeled in by the remaining group of lead riders, and celebrated his exploit with a wheelie of defiance just before he was finally caught.
THE FACT OF THE DAY
Jarlinson Pantano attacked with around three kilometers to go to the finish, and caught up with Warren Barguil, though ultimately Barguil and Miguel-Angel Lopez were able to gap him in order to fight for 2nd place behind a resurgent Tejay Van Garderen (BMC), who won the stage.
THE QUOTE
I attacked to win the stage, but I had no idea just how hard those last kilometers were, commented Jarlinson Pantano, just after taking an excellent 4th place on the difficult stage. We lost our leader, Mathias Frank, to illness, but for the team it is important to show ourselves well at every possible opportunity. Being able to attack on a day like this is good for my confidence, but it was insufficient to win the stage. I hope to have another chance on Sunday.
THE EXPLANATION
As given by Mathias Brändle. I was riding over home roads, and I had the motivation and heart to do well. We rode well together in order to create the maximum time gap before the final climb. But it was not enough to reach the finish in the lead. I am not disappointed because I really gave everything up to five kilometers to go.
THE ANALYSIS
By Rik Verbrugghe: We always want to win the stage. And today, Mathias Brändle certainly lit a fuse. It is necessary to have 2-3 minutes at the foot of the final climb. We also protected Jarlinson Pantano all day. He was super-motivated, and had good legs again. He has proved that he is on a seam of good form, and really deserves to score a victory. His fifth place in the overall is nevertheless a reward already. He is really a luxury rider if we consider that we lost our designated leader, Mathias Frank, due to illness middle of the week.
THE WEATHER
Generously pleasant for almost 200 kilometers, the sun disappeared suddenly when the riders rubbed up against the first percentages of the climb towards the Rettenbach glacier, located more than 2600 meters above sea level.
THE SADNESS
That Dries Devenyns became ill and was forced to leave the Tour de Suisse, in order to preserve his health for upcoming goals, before the start of the queen stage in Arbon which lead to the Rettenbach Glacier above Sölden.
THE INFO
In less than one week, the Swiss time trial championships will take place in Martigny, and the sports management for the IAM Cycling team has announced the three riders who will compete at this first appointment in the week of national races. Reto Hollenstein, who took a silver medal in the 2015 event, will be joined by Jonathan Fumeaux and Simon Pellaud.
THE PAYOFF
500 – In euros, the amount earned by Jarlinson Pantano for his excellent 4th place in the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse. Whos to argue?
THE MENU OF THE DAY
A 16.8 kilometer time trial tracing its way around Davos will give the riders in the top-10 a chance to jostle some places in view of the fact that there are small time gaps between many of them.
Pictures – BettiniPhoto & Tour de Suisse
