Having recently done the Tour du Limousin as preparation, Sylvain Chavanel targets a third overall victory in his home race, the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. The Frenchman leads a strong IAM team that can also count on other strong time triallists like Matthias Brändle and Martin Elmiger.

On the attack as much as ever at last week’s Tour du Limousin, Sylvain Chavanel went home to recharge his batteries in view of his home tour.  In front of his fans, on his roads and with a 24 kilometer time trial on the agenda, the multiple French time trial champion is keen to do well at the Tour du Poitou-Charentes.  Neither he nor his teammates intend to make a training race out of the event.
 
Having won the Tour du Poitou-Charentes in 2005 and 2006, Chavanel is delighted to return to this competition. 

“I am pleased to do Poitou-Charentes.  After eight years away from the event, it was time to return since I have had success here with two wins as well as two second places, and have always enjoyed it.  It’s my home region and I know the roads well. 

"Initially, I was not scheduled to do the Tour du Limousin last week, but it was a good race to use to recover racing speeds without any pressure.  After the Tour de France, I spent some time at altitude, walked and rode my mountain bike.  So I should be improving starting from the Tour du Poitou-Charentes to the GP de Plouay and through to the Tour of Britain.”

IAM for the Tour du Poitou-Charentes

Matthias Brändle (Aut), Sylvain Chavanel (F), Martin Elmiger (S), Kevyn Ista (Bel), Thomas Löfkvist (Swe), Simon Pellaud (S), Sébastien Reichenbach (S)