The waltz of the spring classics continues.  After a brief stint in France on Sunday for the Paris-Roubaix thriller, many of the riders will be returning to Belgian and Dutch roads next week.  IAM Cycling hopes to take advantage of these upcoming events to highlight and animate the races much in the same way they did last Sunday at the Tour of Flanders.
 

Matthias Brändle, winner this year of the final stage at the Tour of Oman in February, is ready to seize his chance at the Flèche Brabançonne, an event he has already raced once. 

“I have good memories of this race.  It is ideal preparation for the Amstel Gold Race.  There are climbs, cobbles, and narrow roads.  When I raced it before, I joined in a breakaway with some other riders, and the peloton only caught us with less than fifty kilometers from the finish.  I hope to try to repeat my good ride, but without weakening near the finish this time.”

At 25, the former world hour record holder now has a slightly different program to race than he did in 2014.  Even before he suits up for Paris-Roubaix, the Austrian on the Swiss professional team will have already logged 3475 kilometers over 23 days of racing. 

“In agreement with the sports management, I wanted to ride the classics this year because I am eager to try some new things.  After Tirreno, I raced Dwars door Vlaanderen, GP E3, Gent-Wevelgem, and the Tour of Flanders.  I am also very happy to be starting my first Paris-Roubaix this Sunday to discover what this level of cobbles really are like.  And returning to the races like Flèche Brabançonne and the Amstel Gold Race does not scare me.  The legs look good and I still feel fresh mentally.”

Riders:
Matthias Brändle (Aut)
Sylvain Chavanel (F)
Thomas Degand (Bel)
Dries Devenyns (Bel)
Pirmin Lang (S)
Vicente Reynes (Sp)
Patrick Schelling (S)
David Tanner (Aus)