“I did not want to end the season on a failure.” Johann Tschopp set the tone while talking about his return to racing with his IAM Cycling team at the Tours du Jura and du Doubs scheduled this weekend. 

The Swiss rider is keen to rejoin the peloton after the surgery conducted at the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) repaired his left collarbone which he broke into six pieces when he crashed on the third stage of the Tour de l’Ain on Monday, August 12th. 

“A plate and eight screws have allowed me to get back on the bike very quickly, first on the [home] trainer and then on the road. I have put in already a good amount of work last week and will do so again in the coming days. I have completed all physio sessions and can pull on the handlebars without pain. There is of course still a little discomfort, but nothing serious. It may take me a little while to conquer any apprehension about crashing again that I may feel while racing. But I am super pleased to be able to participate in these two races and continue my preparations for Milan-Turin and the Tour of Lombardy.”

IAM line-up for Tour du Jura:

Marcel Aregger, Rémi Cusin, Jonathan Fumeaux, Sébastien Hinault, Pirmin Lang, Alexandr Pliuschin, Patrick Schelling, Johann Tschopp.

IAM line-up for Tour du Doubs:

Marcel Aregger, Matthias Brändle, Jonathan Fumeaux, Pirmin Lang, Alexandr Pliuschin, Aleksejs Saramotins, Patrick Schelling, Johann Tschopp.