21 April 2016
IAM Cycling
THE QUOTE
At this race, we were sprinting more for position than to develop your top speed, Matteo Pelucchi said after taking his third place. This kind of finish is absolutely not something that suits my strengths. The end was very technical, and it was almost impossible to produce a real effort. Third place is not the result I expected. But it comes after a day of real team work throughout the stage. My teammates supported me to the absolute best of their abilities, especially since this was a very difficult day. We came to the Tour of Croatia with a view to preparing for the Giro. Although we are still missing a victory from our time here, we are nailing down the lead out so that it will be second nature, and the whole team is communicating well.
THE ANALYSIS
These sprints are very particular, directeur sportif Eddy Seigneur explained. There is never a straight. In this third stage, the last corner was just 100 meters from the line. Under these conditions, everything is a question of positioning. And in this area, the team really responded today. The riders followed the instructions to the letter. We saw a team from IAM Cycling that welded absolutely around its leader Matteo Pelucchi. We have found our place. The group is going well and it bodes well for the Tour of Italy that starts on May 6th. This podium for Matteo will enhance everyones confidence.
THE UNLUCKY
Jonathan Fumeaux. Victim of a crash with 3 kilometers to the finish, the rider from the Valais region Switzerland suffered a fright more than an injury. Ultimately, I sustained a few scratches to the hip and shoulder. The peloton was very nervous. We were riding at around 75km/h when we crashed. I was a bit groggy from the shock, but I was able to continue without too much difficulty.
THE NUMBER
17 – The number of podiums grabbed by IAM Cycling since the start of the season. It is Matteo Pelucchis third.
Pictures – BettiniPhoto
