Thomas Löfkvist will celebrate his 30th birthday this coming April 4th.  Nevertheless, his young age belies the fact that he already has a solid list of victories to his name, including wins at the Mediterranean Tour and the Eroica in addition to other podium places. 

 

The rider from Sweden intends to add more throughout the season. 

 

“Tirreno is my first major goal of the season.  I have raced it five times in my career, and have managed to finish 3rd in 2008 and 4th in 2009.  So I would at least like to add to my record with another podium place this year.  There is no doubt that the competition will be intense, with many of the best stage racers lining up with the same ambition. 

 

"The opportunity to compare ourselves with the biggest names will be particularly interesting since there will be a stage with a summit finish at an altitude of 1500 meters; that should almost certainly be decisive.  But then again, there is also a team time trial as well as an individual time trial.”    

 

In the face of challenging riders of the caliber of Contador, Uran, Sagan, Kreuziger, Gesink and co., Löfkvist has not spared himself. 

 

“Even though I spent a lot of energy on the dirt roads of the Strade Bianche, I felt comfortable and had good feelings in the legs.  I started training in November, and thanks to the mild weather, I was able to accumulate a lot of kilometers.  I did not even need to take the opportunity to engage in cross-country skiing or hiking, to freshen the workload.  Luckily too, I did not get sick and was spared from being injured.  Now I cross my fingers that I can continue like this. 

 

"During my first races this season in Mallorca and Oman, everything went well.  So I think I can say that I am arriving at Tirreno with good potential.  IAM Cycling has nothing it needs to envy when looking at other teams.  We will line up with such fantastic riders like Martin Elmiger, Heinrich Haussler, Matteo Pelucchi, Vicente Reynes and Marcel Wyss, any one of whom can come away with a stage victory while also helping me improve my prospects for an overall victory.”

 

Thomas Löfkvist, Matteo Pelucchi, Marcel Wyss, Heinrich Haussler, Martin Elmiger, Roger Kluger, Dominic Klemme, and Matthias Brandle