As a sort of appetizer ahead of the World Team Time Trial Championships scheduled for Sunday evening in the eastern American city of Richmond, Virginia, cycling fans will have the French Grand Prix d'Isbergues to look forward to Sunday afternoon.  It is a race that has been on the calendar since 1945, and appreciated by many riders because of the opportunity to win that if offers whether the racers specialize as sprinters, baroudeurs or rouleurs.  

Even if the sprinter Arnaud Démare (FDJ) has come up trumps with the win past two years, riders with qualities as varied as Joop Zootemelk, Daniel Gisiger, Jacky Durand, Cédric Vasseur as well as Martin Elmiger (2007) and Aleksejs Saramotins (2010), before the duo joined IAM Cycling, have also been able to find success at this race.

Led by Eddy Seigneur, IAM Cycling will have all the assets they need to shine on the northern French roads around the Pas-de-Calais.  Given the fact that Matteo Pelucchi has had to play catch-up with his form after crashing at the Vuelta, he is keen to discuss his ambitions for the coming race. 

“I hope we can get a good result since we are coming with a great team.  The route does have some climbs before we get to the final circuit where everyone starts getting very nervous about his position in the peloton, which is exactly what happened when I last participated in 2014.” 

After a brief trip to Misano to attend the San Marino Grand Prix motorcycle race, Pelucchi, an avid sports fan, is ready again to focus his attention away from motorcycle racing and begin work from Monday onward in order to be prepared specifically for the upcoming events. 

“I have been back on my bike already for twelve days now.  I recovered from my injury quickly, even though I was pretty tired to begin with.  Today, I feel I have reached a good level again, and I am convinced I will feel better than I did last year.  But in any case, IAM Cycling has several cards it can play at this race.”     

Riders:

Marcel Aregger (S)

Clément Chevrier (Fr)

Thomas Degand (Bel)

Dries Devenyns (Bel)

Pirmin Lang (S)

Simon Pellaud (S)

Matteo Pelucchi (It)

Jonas Van Genechten (Bel)