For IAM Cycling’s Reto Hollenstein, his work is his passion; and the 27-year-old regularly proves this with long breakaways. That was the case again on yesterday’s 8th stage of the Tour de Suisse from Zernez to Bad Ragaz, when the Swiss spent 165 of the 180,5 km in the front group together with Maxime Bouet (AG2R La Mondiale), Robert Vrecer (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Manuele Mori (Lampre).

Although they were caught 15 km from the finish, Hollenstein was satisfied: “The four of us worked really well together,” he said. “But since we had Bouet with us, who is too well placed in the GC, the pack never gave us enough of gap to make the break stick. But I never gave up, even after we passed the finish line for the first time. I was extremely happy to be able to show the IAM Cycling jersey so well, and so close to my home.”

When Hollenstein was caught, his teammate Martin Elmiger was still in the peloton and made it over the final climb and sprinted for the victory, although it was Peter Sagan who took the honours. “We spent a quiet day in the group today since Reto was doing the work in the breakaway up front,” Elmiger recalls. “Then I had myself well placed for the final climb. I tried my luck in the sprint. I only managed 6th place, but I have no regrets considering when I look at who won.”

Sébastien Reichenbach and Johann Tschopp also made the split in the final. Reichenbach said: “Stefan Denifl and Thomas Löfkvist helped me find a good position at the beginning of the last climb. I was well-positioned, but I don’t have the experience to mix in a bunch sprint of this caliber.”