The prospect of earning a trip to the Tour de France mobilizes the attention of many and the strengths of others throughout the month of June.  Directors of the teams invited to La Grande Boucle have the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré as well as the Tour of Switzerland to help refine the list of nine riders who will eventually be called to take the start in Utrecht on Saturday, July 4th.  IAM sports manager Rik Verbrugghe will as a result be waiting until the evening of Sunday, June 21st before discussing with his directeurs sportifs and then deciding which riders will represent the Swiss team in July.

Jérôme Coppel has not been able to race since he had his bad crash on April 9th at the Tour of the Basque Country, where he broke his left hand and received 10 stitches to his left hip.  He knows what problems will be facing him once he takes the start at the Tour of Switzerland. 

“This will be an important proving ground if I want to earn my place at the Tour de France, which was my season goal before I had my crash.  On May 18th, I was able to resume training on the road, and for the moment, knock on wood, everything is going well. 

"As soon as I got the green light, I went to Saisies to do a training camp.  I worked hard.  I am satisfied with my sensations, even if I know I am still missing the rhythm of racing.  I will gain momentum and I think that I will have the advantage of freshness that will be beneficial in the month of July.”

The 28 year old winner of the 2012 Etoile de Bessèges, and second in the 2014 edition of the race, Coppel will be expected to help his leaders for the general classification. 

“Stefan Denifl and Sébastien Reichenbach will certainly be able to be among the top riders.  My role will be to support them, and at the same time perhaps get a good result for myself in the prologue and the individual time trial.  I’m not too bad at doing time trials, and I will really know my way around the queen stage which ends at the Sölden summit.”

Riders:

Matthias Brändle (Aut)

Jérôme Coppel (Fr)

Stefan Denifl (Aut)

Dries Devenyns (Bel)

Martin Elmiger (S)

Jonathan Fumeaux (S)

Sébastien Reichenbach (S)

Larry Warbasse (USA)