While one part of the squad is busy finishing the team's first Tour de France, another part of IAM will be preparing for the Vuelta and other races at altitude.

IAM Cycling is actively preparing to be at its best for the rest of the season.  Aside from racing the Tour de France, the team is also sending twelve of its riders to participate at an altitude training camp in the Bernina range of the Swiss Alps.  The main intention is to help the riders prepare for the Tour of Spain, but the camp will also facilitate an overall improvement of form for all participants. 

Marcello Albasini, who acts not only as a directeur sportif for IAM Cycling, but also as a coach for the riders, explains the reasons for why they plan to stay at an altitude of 2300 meters until August 6th. 

“Since we can’t send 24 guys to the Tour de France, we have to find some useful alternatives for the guys who would prefer not to train alone for an entire month.  We did not participate in any other races in July, and we want to help the riders who didn’t race the Tour to prepare themselves for the rest of the season, which of course includes big goals like the Vuelta and World Championships. 

"After giving them a little time to adjust to the altitude, we will work on endurance by climbing multiple passes, but will reduce the intensities due to the high altitude.”
 
Housed at the Hospice de la Bernina, the riders will train on both the Italian Valteline side as well as the Swiss Engadine side of the range, weather permitting.  Marcello Albasini confirmed the team will put their faith in the weather gods. 

“We hope that the weather will be with us.  If there are thunderstorms predicted, we will still try to go out, but we won’t take any risks.  We will also slip in some team time trial practice, since there is one scheduled for the Vuelta, and several of the riders at the training camp will be expected to line up in Spain too.”
 
IAM Cycling: Marcel Aregger, Stefan Denifl, Jonathan Fumeaux, Sébastien Hinault, Kevyn Ista, Pirmin Lang, Thomas Löfkvist, Matteo Pelucchi, Vicente Reynes, Aleksejs Saramotins, Patrick Schelling, Johann Tschopp.