IAM Cycling to leave peloton after 2016

IAM Cycling will fold at the end of this season leaving Australian professionals including former national champion Heinrich Haussler as well as Leigh Howard and David Tanner looking for a stable.

Heinrich Haussler competing in the 2016 Giro d'Italia uphill time trial (Sirotti) Source: Sirotti

The outfit in a statement released overnight announced it would not continue beyond 2016 with it unable to find a co-sponsor and unwilling to relegate to a Professional Continental or Continental team licence.

IAM top brass had been looking for a co-sponsor to afford a marquee signing who could in turn spearhead its goal to be more competitive in the WorldTour and essentially win more races. Later speculation of a rumoured merger with BMC proved false.

“IAM Cycling will cease operations at the end of the 2016 season,” founder Michel Thétaz said. “This is a failure for which I take full responsibility.

“We have arrived at a key moment in the team’s evolution with the prospect of entering a new three year [WorldTour licence] cycle, however that proved to be an impossible undertaking for IAM Cycling since we have failed to find a co-sponsor, and consequently will be unable to continue our progress to the summit of the sport’s hierarchy.

“It was unthinkable to consider returning to the lower levels, or even to play a subordinate role to the greatest teams with budgets of 12 million. Of course, I regret this situation, but I prefer to rejoice in what we have accomplished over the past four years.

“In these four years of intense activity, which have been marked by unforgettable memories, IAM has enhanced its credibility and received enviable visibility.”

Leigh Howard (L) congratulates Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race winner Peter Kennaugh (Kathryn Watt) Source: Kathryn Watt

IAM operated as a Professional Continental outfit between 2013-2014 and joined the WorldTour in 2015.

Riders had previously been advised that a decision on the team’s future would be made in May.

Haussler has competed for the Swiss-based squad since 2013, Tanner 2015 while Howard made his debut this year, headlining the roster at Milan-San Remo.