No two days are alike on the roads of the Tour of Spain for IAM Cycling.  Though slightly hackneyed, the saying still holds true for the riders from the Swiss team on this tenth stage of the race.  Having been conspicuously missing from the action in the recent stages, the riders from IAM Cycling finally lifted their heads above the trenches and struck out in the aggressive fashion that their team managers expect from them. 

 

Such is how they will have to perform every stage if they hope to achieve the team’s main goal, which is to win a stage in this year’s Vuelta.  Though today did not prove to be IAM Cycling’s turn to jump onto the top step of the podium, Kristian Sbaragli (MTN - Qhubeka) turned up the surprise winner in this sprint over the streets of Castellón.  Led by his teammates at the head of a reduced peloton, the Italian sprinter took a narrow victory ahead of John Degengolb (Giant - Alpecin), who himself is still looking for success at the Vuelta. 

 

Current overall leader, Tom Dumoulin (Giant – Alpecin), was never much worried during the stage, and will hold the red leader’s jersey at least until Wednesday, which will be the first stage after the much needed rest day.

 

Upon crossing the line, every face was drawn with weariness.  After ten days of racing, the riders were yet again forced to contend with some late climbs before the finish of the stage.  For some, that last climb was a trial.  For others, it was an opportunity to regain some good climbing sensations, as Jérôme Coppel can attest: 

 

“In that last climb, about twenty kilometers from the finish, there were two riders at the front,” Coppel explained.  “Kenny Elissonde (FDJ) attacked to bridge up, and then I took off after him a touch too late.  I did bridge up to him, but honestly, this effort put me in the red.  Consequently, I wasn’t able to hold his wheel. 

 

"But we must also look on the positive side of things.  I know that I am getting stronger every day here, and these signals bode well for the rest of the Vuelta for me.  We will now tackle the high mountain stages, and I hope to be able to shine on that sort of terrain that is typically much more favorable to my strengths. 

 

"But before thinking about those stages later in the week, we have a long bus transfer and then the first rest day, which will be very good for us before we attack another difficult week.”

 

The sports managers were equally pleased with how the team raced the stage, and Eddy Seigneur was happy to corroborate Jérôme Coppel’s assessment of the day.  It is with a sense of a job well done that Seigneur discusses the stage. 

 

“Today we saw a team on the offensive, and that’s what we’ve wanted from the start of the Vuelta,” Seigneur explained.  “This Monday stage saw Jérôme Coppel recover his good legs after a month and a half without any competition.  We saw how they attacked on this tenth stage, and that is a good sign for the rest of the Vuelta. 

 

"Tuesday we will enjoy a day of rest, and it will do us good.  I sense that the riders are tired, which is normal after ten hard days of racing, but they are also nervous.  So to have a quiet day to relax can only prove to be beneficial.  And I say it will be quiet, but obviously we will go out for a ride.  Wednesday is a very hard stage, so it is important not to do a full stop.  In Andorra, where we will be staying beginning this evening, the riders will go for an easy ride of two small hours, and then have their massages to help with recovery.”