IAM will go into the Classic Sud-Ardeche and Drome Classic without a clear leader.

“Above all I want to see my riders perform and comport themselves well at these races,” directeur sportif Eddy Seigneur explained.  “I expect to see a team very much on the offensive.  We have the opportunity to win.  But the level of the race has been raised.  And our team has evolved.  Our riders have matured.  We are not going to work for a single leader.  At both the Drôme and the Ardèche classics, all our riders will have the opportunity to seize their chances.”

“I know the routes of the races well,” confessed Clément Chevrier, who is in his second year with IAM Cycling.  “I regularly attended training camps with the Chambery Cycling Team.  Theweather could definitely disrupt the race, especially if it is windy.  The climbs are often short, and require a lot of punch.  When you arrive at the top, you can find yourself hung out to dry since you can’t breathe and there is no chance to rest. The race will be eventful.  We find a very different tempo in the World Tour.  To be efficient, you need to keep your freshness.”

Always a strategic point of the race in previous editions, the Rocher de Sampzon will not feature on the program of this year’s Classic Sud-Ardèche. Instead the organizers have opted to be innovative: with the redesigned course there will be obstacles like the Val d'Enfer and the côte de la Corniche to offer up the possibilities for an explosive final.

Line-up

Clément Chevrier (F)

Stef Clement (Ned)

Jérôme Coppel (F)

Stefan Denifl (Aut)

Pirmin Lang (S)

Simon Pellaud (S)

Vicente Reynes (Esp)

Larry Warbasse (USA)