His satisfaction is reflected in his smile.  Mathias Frank (27 years old) has been gaining momentum over the course of the spring races. 

 

Having taken part in a Paris-Nice breakaway, then winning the queen stage at the top of the summit of L’Ospedale on his way to taking second place overall at Critérium International, the Swiss rider from Lucerne who now calls Basel home hung on for a 15th place finish Wednesday at the Flèche Wallonne.  This encourages him to believe that an even better result is within his grasp for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.  

 

“I feel great.  I have not had any issues with my health throughout all my training.  The sensations on the bike are good.  It was mainly my own fault that I missed out on taking a top 10 place on Wednesday at Flèche. 

 

"My teammates were able to protect me and took me back up to the front of the race after I punctured.  It was only then that I made the one mistake of the day by being misplaced at the beginning of the last climb up the Mur d’Huy.  But this experience will serve me well in the future editions of the race. 

 

"In any case, La Doyenne suits me better than Flèche.  The climbs are different and you do not require the qualities of a puncheur in a final like that.”  

 

After having made a reconnaissance, along with his teammates, of the final climbs in this last classic of the spring season, Mathias Frank emphasized the importance of experience while also keeping the upcoming Tour of Romandie in the back of his mind. 

 

“The only question I have in my mind is performing at that distance.  I never have arrived in Ans with the best and trying for the win.  In my three participations in this race, I was always working for a team leader.  This time, the cards are redistributed and I have the support of an excellent team which has proved its collective strength more than once from the beginning of the season. 

 

"I am ready and there will be time enough to think about the Tour of Romandie Monday morning.  I take the races as they come.  I have no apprehension thinking about what waits for us next Tuesday.  This is not the first time I have done Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Romandie one after the other.”

 

Mathias Frank, Stefan Denifl, Pirmin Lang, Sebastien Reichenbach, Thomas Löfkvist, Gustav Erik Larsson, Jerome Pineau and Reto Hollenstein