IAM Cycling continues to be active and prepare for the 2016 season in order to be able to achieve its goals racing in the WorldTour.  After signing contracts with four new riders, (Leigh Howard, Vegard Stake Laengen, Naesen Oliver, and Oliver Zaugg), Michel Thétaz, founder of IAM Cycling and CEO of IAM Funds, has also organized the arrival of Lionel Marie (50) as a member of the team’s sports management.  The Frenchman will be replacing Rubens Bertogliati within the group of directors which includes Serge Beucherie, Kjell Carlström, Mario Chiesa, Thierry Marichal, Eddy Seigneur and Rik Verbrugghe.

Rubens Bertogliati (36), a member of the Swiss professional team since its inception in January 2013, decided that he wanted to take on a new challenge in his home canton in southern Switzerland. 

“With my new family responsibilities, it was difficult to balance my work 100% in IAM Cycling with that of being a father.  And above all, I really wanted to get involved with training young riders.  So I have taken a part-time position with the Ticino Federation to coach the next generation.”

Lionel Marie, an ex-racer with various clubs in the amateur ranks, was born on September 19, 1965 in Cherbourg (Manche), which will host the arrival of the 2nd stage of the Tour de France.  As a career coach, he has extensive experience as a directeur sportif.  After starting his career working with the Crédit Agricole espoirs team, Marie moved on to positions with Cofidis, Garmin, Orica-GreenEDGE, Giant-Shimano and Torku Seker, and is greatly looking forward to taking on a new challenge with IAM Cycling. 

“I feel very proud to be back with a WorldTour team, and will enjoy working again with familiar faces like Rik Verbrugghe and Thierry Marichal, with whom I rubbed shoulders while they were riding for Cofidis.  From my first meetings, I have discovered this desire to make progress while still keeping our feet on the ground.”