Michel Ries 9th of the Mercan Tour
Michel Ries finishes 9th in Valberg at the end of the 2nd edition of the Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes. Alessandro Verre also had a good breakaway.
“It’s nice to feel good again after a lot of hard work. It’s always good to know that all the work I have done to come back after my operation on the iliac artery this winter has paid off. I was discovering this race, this region. The Mercan’Tour Classic is a race for pure climbers, it is really the legs that speak. I like these events when I am in good shape, because they allow me to show myself. It’s good for my morale. I was feeling good, on the penultimate climb the race totally exploded, there were about fifteen riders in the lead and I was among them. On the last climb to Valberg I hung on and finished 9th. I am satisfied with this place, because it was a quite difficult day in the mountains”
“Michel Ries has done a great Mercan Tour Classic Alpes Maritimes. Let’s not forget that he had an operation on his iliac artery this winter, and that since a few weeks we can measure his progress, especially in events like this one, which is perfectly suited for climbers. As for Warren, he “had a leg failure as they say in the jargon”, but nothing to worry about. The very first races after a training course in altitude are often all or nothing, as we know. The day was also hard here. Our team for this competition was homogeneous. I had motivated Alessandro this morning to go on the offensive. He is young, only 20 years old, and making efforts can only bring him benefits and allow him to progress, that’s how he’ll take the case. These moments in front of him will serve him well”