Vattenfall Cyclassics – Reto Hollenstein – Since it often ends in a sprint, I will put myself at the service of our specialists –

IAM Cycling will be battling on two fronts this weekend.  While stage racing specialists will be lining up to compete in the Andalusian mountains at the Vuelta, the flying acrobats of the high-speed finishing straights will be throwing some elbows around the roads of Hamburg. IAM Cycling has selected eight riders capable of working as a homogeneous group to be present and active at the decisive moments.  In the past, the collective strength of a team has often proved to be the dominant factor when racing over the roads surrounding the German port city.

Reto Hollenstein played the role of perfect teammate during the Tour de France, and then most recently finished the Eneco Tour as the team’s best-placed rider. He will also be in Hamburg and has a clear vision of how to approach this classic that has spent many years on the WorldTour calendar.  “Since it often ends in a sprint, I will put myself at the service of our specialists.  In the recent past, riders like Démarre and Degenkolb have come away as the winners. But the puncheurs can also on occasion prove to be the fastest.  It all depends on how the first two hundred kilometers are tackled.  This will be my second time at the race, but I remember the scenario very well.  In the finale, it is very nervous and you have to position yourself well, especially when racing up the only climb of the day.  We have several strong options within our team.  Heinrich Haussler is gaining in strength and form, and has marked this classic as a goal.  Martin Elmiger also recently distinguished himself racing well in Norway.  Finally, we have some pure sprinters as well like Sondre Holst Enger and Jonas Van Genechten.  It will be up to Matthias Brändle, Aleksejs Saramotins, Roger Kluge and myself to be attentive and well-positioned in order to help the one of our specialists who is feeling strongest on Sunday to have the opportunity to play for the win or the podium.”

Vattenfall Cyclassics (Sunday, August 23rd)

Hambourg – Hambourg,  247,2 km (10h55 – 16h45)

More information about the race www.vattenfall-cyclassics.de

Twitter @Cyclassics

Team IAM Cycling Vattenfall Cyclassics

Directeur sportif Rubens Bertogliati

Matthias Brändle (Aut)

Martin Elmiger (S)

Heinrich Haussler (Aus)

Reto Hollenstein (S)

Sondre Holst Enger (Nor)

Roger Kluge (All)

Aleksejs Saramotins (Let)

Jonas Van Genechten (Bel)