IAM goes to Amstel Gold on Sunday with many options. On paper, certainly the Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, the recently sick Jerome Pineau, who has been in the top 10 three times in Amstel.

"Even 'Chava' has shown that he can ride the Amstel for the win. He's a great captain and outside of the race a fun teammate. For him, he loves riding in the wind," the Austrian Stefan Denifl told Cyclingnews.

However, at IAM not everything will be aligned to the two veterans. "Who will be the strongest rider, we'll see. I believe that all the riders in the squad are at a similarly high level and decide the form on the day and the race course will be, "said Matthias Brandle, next to Denifl, the second Austrian in the squad.

The two are optimistic in Maastricht at the start, they can rely on a good shape that they have gained in the last few weeks. The only difference between Denifl and Brandle is that the first-mentioned already can show results. 

"Especially in Paris-Nice everything fit together and I could finally get a result" Denifl, which ended the French race in seventh.

In Brandle, however 2014 has not been as good as he expected. "The correct result has unfortunately often been lacking. I often had the legs to make something great but so far it just has not worked. For that I was able to contribute my part that my teammates were able to celebrate quite a success " he said.

Both Brandle and Denifl rode the Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday. While Brandle at the start of the race, although not very good feeling, managed to get into the breakaway, Denifl spoke of having a “black day”. 

“I still felt good on Tuesday in a pub! But then in the race I had from the start a bad feeling. There were still mild stomach problems and when it came to the finals, I also got some problems with the bronchi. I think the slight cough together with an allergy of pollen and grasses were then decisive, " Denifl said, but added, "I remain optimistic for the classics"

His optimism refers to the 26-year-old also from a weight reduction of almost eight kilograms, which makes him competitive, especially on the climbs. "I always had good wattage values, but the weight to performance ratio was not great. I always knew about the potential of what I have thus yet, only was the implementation not so easy. It took until I found out how my metabolism works and how I manage without being to fast and easy to stay ahead of everything."

As Denifl showed in the previous year with 22nd in Liege-Bastogne-Liege,his future lies in the Ardennes Classics.

"Amstel is very special and there's more to a good position in the race on it as at Fleche or Liege. Still to more riders will be left in the final well, the fight for a good placement. Nevertheless, when the legs are good, some is also possible at the Amstel. I feel good; I will certainly get my freedoms, " Denifl said