Volta a Catalunya – Jarlinson Pantano «If I’m here today, it is because my teammates believed in me»

Déjà vu all over again for Tejay Garderen (BMC).  The American rider who won not too far from here at the Tour of Catalonia last year nearly to the day, once again has found the finish line first, this time at La Molina.  On this queen stage, the only summit finish of this year’s race, the favorites had the chance to fight without pulling any punches. At the start of the stage, Jérôme Coppel slipped into what would be the main break of the day, while Jarlinson Pantano was then able to be among the best once the road started to tip skyward near the end.  The Columbian rider saw his efforts repaid with an excellent 12th place for the stage.

When analyzing his day, Pantano declared himself satisfied with his result, but also grateful for his teammates.  “I feel good, and I’m pretty happy with what I did today.  The sensations are quite good,” Pantano said.  “I tried to do everything possible to remain at the front.  On the last climb, I attacked two kilometers from the finish.  I’m missing a little extra strength, and it’s true that I still have a little doubt, but that’s cycling.  I’d like to thank all my teammates who really helped me to be there today.  I’m very happy to be part of this great team.  If I’m here today, it’s because my teammates believed in me, and gave me confidence.  I think that when a team as important as IAM Cycling has confidence in you, then you have a great responsibility.  So I give the best I possibly can of myself.  I train very well every day, thanks very much to Vicente Reynes who opened his home in Mallorca to me, welcomed me into his family and has helped me to feel at home.  With training like that, I think I am on the right track to achieve the team’s goals.”

Mario Chiesa, directeur sportif for IAM Cycling, believed that the team did indeed achieve its goals for the fourth stage.  “I think the riders did their best and have succeeded in implementing the game plan we laid out for them this morning,” Chiesa declared.  “We wanted to be present in the breakaway and Jérôme Coppel managed that.  We wanted Jarlinson Pantano to be among the best on the final climb, and he did that well too.  He is still young, and the riders who are racing here are all at a very high level.  So for me how well he performed today is very positive. Pantano is really a very good racer.”