For the first time since joining the professional peloton in January 2013, IAM Cycling will be participating in the World Team Time Trial Championships.  Richmond, the capital of Virginia, is located 150 kilometers south of Washington D.C.  The Swiss team owned by Michel Thétaz, founder of the IAM Cycling team and CEO of IAM Funds, will compete next Sunday in the event which is a 38.6 kilometer circuit around the city that has nearly 220,000 inhabitants.

Having arrived on site Monday night coming from the GP Quebec and Montreal, Rik Verbrugghe, sports manager of the Swiss professional team, set the tone for the event even before having a chance to recon the course designed by the organizers. 

“We did not come here just for the sake of taking the start.  This season we have proved our worth.  At the Tour of Romandie, the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France, and the Tour of Spain we were always able to animate the race regardless of circumstances.  In Richmond, our goal is to finish inside the top-10, and we’ll see where we stand.  Right now we’re not certain of the race profile.  Given the information that I have received, it’s a course for rouleurs, and that should suit us.”  

Rik Verbrugghe also talked about how to choose the six riders who will fly the colors of IAM Cycling in the event. 

“We decided to bring seven riders to the event.  This will allow us the luxury of substituting someone in case of some unforeseen trouble arising before Sunday.  But of course, there will be one disappointed guy because all seven are motivated and want to take part in this competition.  We will make our final choice based on how the training rides that we have planned for Thursday and Friday go over the course.  We are looking to find the greatest homogeneity for the group of six, who will work best together over the course during the race on Sunday.”