Vuelta – Mathias Frank – I would like to win a stage; that would make me happy –

THE EXCLAMATION

From Mathias Frank. “I would like to win a stage; that would make me happy.”

THE QUOTE

Again from Mathias Frank: “I have felt good in training. However, it will take me a few days to find the rhythm of competition again. But I am not worried considering the fact that I have been having the right sensations in training.”

THE EXPLANATION

As provided once more by Mathias Frank: “I have recovered from my stomach troubles that forced me out of the Tour de France recently. I have trained well and took part in the Clasica San Sebastian in an effort to continue my recovery. There is nothing to worry about, and I am ready to take part in my third Vuelta after I raced it in 2008 and 2011, where I placed 4th on the 10th stage which finished at altitude (Verin – Estacion de Montana Manzaneda).”

THE ANALYSIS

Given by Rik Verbrugghe, sports manager for IAM Cycling. “Making the selection for the riders to take to the Vuelta has not proved easy since all our riders have kept their motivation to race straight through to the end of the season. We have favored some youthful riders like Chevrier and Pellaud. Our policy for the Vuelta will be identical as it was for the Tour de France. We will lineup with a very aggressive squad that will have a stage win as the primary objective. Mathias Frank will be the leader for the general classification, but we will not be focusing on a place in the top-10.”

THE WEATHER

Sunny, hot weather will be expected at the start in Galicia for this 71st edition of La Vuelta. The team time trial will be looking at a high temperature of 27 ° C, while the mercury will rise to 32 ° for Sunday’s stage, and even peak at 39 °C in time for the first uphill finish at the top of Mirador de Ezaro.

THE INFO

The team presentation will take place on Thursday, August 18th. Then the riders will make the effort to reconnoiter the team time trial course before the start of the event which is set for Saturday, August 20th. The first of the twenty-two teams racing (18 World Tour and 4 invited) will start off at 18:26 while the final team is expected to cross the finish line at the stroke of 20:18.

THE NUMBER

29,4 – That is the number of kilometers each squad will have to cover for the team time trial, though without any major obstacles. The opening day route will take them between the spa-resort of Orense and the Castrelo de Mino Waterpark.

THE MENU FOR THE TOUR

The 21 stages will cover a total distance of 3277.3 km, as estimated by the organizers. This will include 7 flat stages, 12 medium and high mountain stages, and two time trials (one team and one individual).

THE OBSERVATION

IAM Cycling will be fielding a team where the majority of the riders have never even raced over Spanish roads. Clément Chevrier, Dries Devenyns, Vegard Stake Laengen, Jonas Van Genechten, and Marcel Wyss will all be Vuelta neophytes for this 2016 edition.

THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

Vicente Reynes. Always ready for a laugh, and the guy who keeps the mood bright and light within the team, the 35 year old Reynes, who comes from Mallorca, will be starting his seventh Vuelta.

LINE-UP La Vuelta

Pictures – Sirotti & IAM Cycling