IAM Cycling’s disappointment was palpable at the end of the E3 GP, which was won by Peter Sagan (Cannondale).  The aggressive tactics that the team employed for this tactical rehearsal of the Tour of Flanders in ten days’ time, did not in the end bear fruit.

 

Marcello Albasini, acting as directeur sportif alongside Eddy Seigneur, refused to become too alarmed. 

 

“The goal was neither more or less than to win.  We chose to tighten the race by taking responsibility for the pace setting after the feed zone.  Dominic Klemme, Aleksejs Saramotins and Jérôme Pineau moved to the head of the peloton to set the pace.  But we have been disappointed. 

 

"Perhaps we are still a bit green for this kind of strategy.  But we did not give up either.  Sunday, we will hit the road with the same desire to succeed and win.”  

 

Though distanced on the Paterberg, Sylvain Chavanel, the best finisher for IAM Cycling, regretted that he wasn’t able to hold the pace at the decisive moment. 

 

“On the Paterberg, I found myself forced to dismount after a little nudge.  This cost me 5 to 10 seconds at the top of the climb.  I ended up on my own between Patterberg and the Oude Kwaremont.  I tried to come back before the climb, but it was impossible. 

 

"I am disappointed because I felt good.  And it’s too bad that the team was not rewarded for the hard work everyone put in for today.  The guys rode really well today.”