CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

“We really tapped into our reserves going so much against the wind, keeping a small advantage over the rest of the peloton.  So I had a reasonable chance of succeeding.  But Terpstra was too strong."

Photo: IAM Cycling

IAM CYCLING

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS

MARTIN ELMIGER

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

TOUR OF QATAR

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS
09.02.2014 @ 18:50 Posted by Andy Pedersen

Martin Elmiger rushed away from the peloton to join the breakaway on today’s stage in Qatar. He took his leads, but didn’t have the feeling that the breakaway could go all the way. He is satisfied with his 4th place and his level of fitness at the point of the season.

 

He says he wasn’t completely tired at the end of the race and he tried his luck just like Niki Terpstra did. But he wasn’t as strong as he thought. It was a gamble and sometimes it works, but not this time.  

 

“I felt good.  Despite the hard effort, I still had some reserves at the end.  And like Niki Terpstra, who also still had some strength in his legs, I decided to take a chance with an attack at the end.  It was a gamble and there are times when it does in fact work.  But this time, I just over-estimated how much strength I still had,” said Elmiger.

 

As said, Elmiger never had the feeling that the breakaway could go all the way to the finish line. The wind was very tough and right in their face and it wasn’t everyone, who were taking their turns in the front of the breakaway. 

 

“I never got it into my head that this break was actually going to hold on until the end.  We took advantage of the intermediate sprint with 30 kilometers to go to the line.  The wind was tough and mostly in our faces.  We worked, but not everyone was pulling his weight.  And having two Omega Pharma-Quickstep riders coming to the group, the balance within the group changed. “

 

Elmiger is disappointed with coming away with only a 4th place, but he is also very happy with his shape. It means a good season for him.

 

“On the one hand, I am very disappointed to have come away from this with only 4th place, but from another point of view, I’m really happy with my level of fitness.  This bodes well for the future because there will be more opportunities in this race, not to mention the rest of the races throughout the season, which will be a long one.” 

 

Though tired after the day, Elmiger was in no doubt about just where he made his mistake, beginning around the final 300 meters marker:

 

“In the first race of the season, it is tough to judge just where your opponents are in their condition too.  But then I saw that Terpstra was working hard.  After the first attack of another Belgian, I realized that there was a moment of hesitation from everyone.  And so I chose to go then hoping that they would watch.  Everyone was tired from the effort of the day. “

 

It was a chance he took and it didn’t end as he hoped, but he doesn’t regret anything. He says he had a reasonable chance of succeeding.

 

“We really tapped into our reserves going so much against the wind, keeping a small advantage over the rest of the peloton.  So I had a reasonable chance of succeeding.  But Terpstra was too strong.  So really I do not have many regrets, even if this current disappointment stings.”

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Corey SWEET
48 years | today
Gontrand ARTU
50 years | today
Sylvain BLANQUEFORT
39 years | today
Steve BOVAY
40 years | today
Alex VANDENBULCKE
23 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com