Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) grabbed the victory at the end of the 112th edition of Paris-Roubaix.  IAM Cycling missed out on taking part in the fight at the final due largely to multiple punctures and mechanical problems, not to mention a crash involving Marcel Aregger in the Arenberg forest. 

 

Eddy Seigneur, directeur sportif alongside Marcello Albasini, confirmed the team’s mishaps at the end of the race. 

 

“The guys were showing themselves on the offensive.  They tried to make their luck, particularly with Aleksejs Saramotins joining the lead group as it attacked, only to be waylaid by a mechanical. 

 

"Roger Kluge too worked hard and even rallied to make a sprint out of his group in the velodrome.  As for the others, they all punctured at important moments.” 

 

Aleksejs Saramotins was among the disappointed on the team. 

 

“I managed to join the lead group with Boonen.  I was feeling good and then suddenly my chain snapped.  I was unable to continue and given the position of our team car in the caravan, I had to wait a while to be able to change bikes.  By then the train had left without me.”

 

As for Roger Kluge, the top-finishing rider on IAM Cycling, he also had his share of bad luck. 

 

“Twice I punctured and had to chase back on.  I was feeling at ease, but I lost a lot of strength getting back to the peloton.  In the velodrome, I made a try to win the sprint from my group.  This is my first Paris-Roubaix, but it will not be my last.” 

 

Jérôme Pineau also made his remarks after having had to abandon the race due to suffering a flat tire at a moment when the race was chaotic. 

 

“I held on well and we were on the offensive in the early pavé sections.  I was missing a little something to stay with the best.  I’m ready to tackle this race again, even if, for me, the major events of the year are yet to come.”