To say that the first week of the Vuelta for IAM Cycling was complicated would be an understatement.  Impacted by the abandonments of Matteo Pelucchi, David Tanner, and Thomas Degand, the Swiss professional team had imagined that it would start its third grand tour of the season under better circumstances.  In spite of its best efforts, IAM Cycling has been penalized when facing strong teams, many of which still have their full complement of nine riders.  Nevertheless, the Swiss team’s riders have risen to the challenge in the difficult stages this past weekend. 

In view of all their efforts, the entire peloton was pleased to have a day of recovery in Andorra for the Vuelta’s first rest day.  Riders stretched their legs on the bike for two tiny hours on Tuesday, and the members of the Swiss team also took the opportunity to reconnoiter some of the multiple climbs that they will be facing on Wednesday.  Keen to perform well throughout the rest of the Vuelta, IAM Cycling has not lost its professionalism and desire to progress. 

“Looking at the balance sheet, we obviously are not on the positive side,” Eddy Seigneur frankly admitted.  “Losing riders in crashes is sometimes a part of being in a grand tour, but it is still an unhappy fact and painful to digest.  We tried to be in the breakaways, but we have not always managed to find the right opening to slide in.  However, now I feel that our riders are rediscovering their form, especially Jérôme Coppel.  He showed fine skills in Monday’s stage, and this gives us real hope for the future.”

And when it comes to hope, the Swiss team founded by Michel Thétaz, CEO of IAM Funds, remains ambitious and determined to achieve the goals it set at the beginning of the event. 

“As we have been saying since the start of the Tour of Spain, we are committed to winning at least one stage,” Seigneur continued.  “We want to be at the front of the race.  Although our numbers are diminished, we want to follow the same logic. Being aggressive is still the strength of IAM Cycling.  We will stay on the same course, especially since we have no one in our ranks angling for a spot in the overall classifications.  That really gives us the freedom to adapt our strategy day by day.”