Mathias Frank is going into his first grand tour as team leader when he lines up at the helm of the IAM team. The Swiss targets a top 15 result while his teammate Sylvain Chavanel has set his sights on stage wins.

On the eve of the first stage of the 101th Tour de France, IAM Cycling held a press conference in a tent on Wellington Place in Leeds.  Michel Thétaz, founder of IAM Cycling and CEO of IAMFUNDS.CH, was happy to reiterate his pleasure at being invited to participate in the team’s first grand tour, while Eddy Seigneur, one of the directeurs sportifs along with Kjell Carlström, made a point of emphasizing the team’s objectives. 

“We came here to target a place in the top-15, or better, with Mathias Frank as our team leader. We are also focused on winning stages with riders like Sylvain Chavanel, Heinrich Haussler and Martin Elmiger.”
 
Also present at the press conference, Mathias Frank and Sylvain Chavanel discussed their own goals.  Frank, who recently finished 2nd at the Tour of Switzerland, is calm facing his objective. 

“I have recovered well in recent races and I am motivated by the idea of targeting a place in the top-15.  During these three weeks, I have a chance to benefit from the hard work that my younger and sometimes less experienced teammates will do.  I’ll take the days one by one.  The first week will be nervous and tactical, and I will be happy to avoid all the traps before the mountains.” 

Chavanel, reconfirmed as the French time trial champion last week, spoke of how pleased he will be to ride this year’s Tour de France with his new Swiss Pro Continental team. 

“I will be taking part in my 14th Tour and I am very happy, proud and motivated by the idea of helping this young team in its first experience of the event.  We will have many opportunities throughout the three weeks and may even have the chance to wear one of the classification jerseys. 

"For my part, if I can take the opportunity to grab a win, I will not hesitate.  And my initial best chances will arrive quickly after we return to France from our English sojourn.  The parcours are tricky and the weather could also be a factor in helping an escape succeed in these early stages.”