IAM Cycling showed the jersey well throughout the second stage of the Paris-Nice.  The stage lasted five kilometers too long, which prevented the Swiss Pro Continental team from grabbing its first victory of the 2014 season, not for lack of trying. 

 

Aleksejs Saramotins joined Anthony Delaplace for a 200 kilometer escape, only to be caught five kilometers from the finish by the peloton.  Moreno Hofland (Belkin) took advantage of the situation and was a surprise winner for the day in the predictable sprint finish. 

 

Talking about his efforts, Saramotins, who is the current Latvian road race champion, explained the reason he went in the break. 

 

“I want to give my everything to the Paris-Nice.  We came here to win the overall with Sylvain Chavanel.  And when I set off in the break for the day, I thought it would be a good way to relieve the team of any chasing duties throughout the stage.  Delaplace and I worked well together, and we collected nearly 12 minutes in front of the group before they started to reel us in. 

 

"Two riders are no match against a field of over one hundred pursuers, and the advantage eventually swung to the strongest.  I was at the breaking point, but I still believed and tried to stay away.  That’s why I am not disappointed.  And anyways, we didn’t lose anything in the final.  Chavanel is still perfectly placed to play for the win.”

 

Sébastien Hinault gave his take on the day spent in the field. 

 

“I did not suffer any ill-effects from my crash yesterday.  All I did was leave a little skin behind on the asphalt.  Today we all worked very hard and successfully to protect Sylvain Chavanel throughout the stage and especially in the final.  I just wish I had not been hampered in the last bend which prevented my taking part in the sprint.  But the main thing was not to lose any time with breaks in the field.”  

 

You can read our stage preview here and follow our live coverage at 14.25 CET on CyclingQuotes.com/live.