Mathias Frank (IAM Cycling) put a season of misfortune and struggle behind him with a hard-fought victory on Mas de la Costa on stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana.
Frank has been plagued by illness and injury this season and has not tasted victory since the second stage of the Bayern Rundfahrt in 2014.
He had to hold off a strong chasing group that included stage 14 winner Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo), but had just enough time to celebrate what he called a ‘dream come true’.
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“When I crossed the line, I said to myself that this is a dream come true,” Frank explained. “I have not had an amazing season. I missed out completely on my two main objectives when I had to abandon both the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France. My ambition coming into the Vuelta was to win a stage. Now I have accomplished this mission. I feel at peace, and it’s an incredible feeling.”
The 2016 Vuelta will be the final Grand Tour for the IAM Cycling team after they announced their departure from the sport earlier this season. Since the announcement came, it has become one of the most successful seasons for the Swiss team with victories in all three Grand Tours. Roger Kluge kicked it off with his surprise win on stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia, and Jarlinson Pantano added one at the Tour de France.
Jonas Van Genechten completed the set with his success on stage 7 of the Vuelta, and the team has been keen to add another. Frank, who will join AG2R-La Mondiale next season, had already been in a number of breakaways, and Dries Devenyns has come close to adding a second Vuelta win for the team.
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