Paris-Tours represents the end of the season for a large majority of the professional peloton.  And IAM Cycling is no exception to this rule.  The finish line on the famous avenue de Grammont will mark the last finale for the Swiss cycling team’s 2015 season.  And as a dream ending with which to close the summer, IAM Cycling would love to have a successful final race this Sunday, October 11th. 

“I have raced in the Paris-Tours only once, but despite my limited experience in the race, I remember the route pretty well,” Sondre Holst Enger confided.  “It is not as easy as it seems.  Although all the roads that we race are relatively flat, there are a few climbs that come in the last kilometers and can make the difference.  It is essential to eliminate the sprinters less comfortable with these sorts of challenges, especially since it’s all after more than 230 kilometers of racing. 

"If I can go there with the same condition I had this past week at the Eurometropole Tour, then this is an event that very well could suit me.  I appreciate the fact that there are some harder bits in the race.  Anyway, I know the team will do everything it can so that one of us will be in a position to try and win. 

"But before thinking about a victory, we must act like a team, ride as a compact unit, and be together for the entire race.  Once we can accomplish that, then we will be in a position to decide which card we will want to play. 

"With guys like Heinrich Haussler, Jonas Van Genechten, as well as Roger Kluge and myself, we will have a lot of options to finish fast.  I don’t yet know what tactics IAM Cycling will adopt, but we will certainly be aggressive.”

The notion of playing their Norwegian card is more than a hypothesis for IAM Cycling.  The young neo-pro Holst Enger has given it some thought. 

“Whether it is to help my teammates or try my own chances, I want to be present at the finale.  I have had a pretty complicated year physically.  My season has been punctuated by a lot of injuries.  But I still managed to win my first professional victory at the Tour of Austria.  So it is very important for me to finish on a good note.  A win would of course be the perfect way to put an end to this 2015 season.  But I am not the only one in the peloton with that ambition.  Of that I am certain.”

Line-up

Heinrich Haussler (Aus)

Reto Hollenstein (S)

Roger Kluge (Ger)

Sondre Holst Enger (Nor)

Jarlinson Pantano (Col)

Dries Devenyns (Bel)

Marcel Aregger (S)

Jonas Van Genechten (Bel)