Dan Martin’s hugely impressive track record at the Volta a Catalunya make the Etixx-QuickStep a natural reference point when it comes to looking for top contenders in the race. But this time round, at least, Martin insists that others have a great right to the status of favourite.
After a strong start to the season, winning a stage of the Tour of Valencia, Irishman has just returned to racing in Catalunya after a spell of illness knocked him out of taking part in Tirreno-Adriatico. The subsequent lack of racing miles over the last month makes it harder for Martin to judge his real condition, he believes.
“It’s nice to be back racing, I had a bit of a break after Oman, I got sick in Oman and it lingered for a bit, so I didn’t feel up to Tirreno and it worked out because there were no mountains there this year,” the Etixx-Quick Step rider told Cyclingnews early in the race.
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“But I’m happy to be back at this race, because obviously it’s been kind to me in the past.”
That is something of an understatement. Together with double Volta winner Joaquim Rodriguez, Martin is the most prolifically successful racer in the Catalan race taking part this year. For the record, he has a tenth place in the Volta a Catalunya last year, including a fourth place in Wednesday’s stage finish at La Molina.
He was also a winner in Port Ainé, Thursday’s finish, in 2013, when he went on to win the race outright, as well as taking fourth overall in 2012, second overall in 2011 and second overall way back in 2009, too. There’s no doubt that Catalunya is a race for which he feels special affection, as well, given Girona was for many years his adopted city, before Martin moved on to reside in Andorra.
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