A key to becoming a successful Grand Tour rider is the ability to addresses one's weaknesses. For Quick-Step's Dan Martin the question over consistency was once an issue but the Irishman has turned a one-time vulnerability into a strength with a string of top 10 places this season. Inconsistency and Martin are no longer the bedfellows they once were.
This season the Irishman made the podium in two of the Ardennes Classics and has finished no lower than sixth in any of the stage races he has started. On the eve of Critérium du Dauphiné, he stands as one of the main contenders to challenge for the podium. If he can address one final weakness – his time trialing – then he has an even greater chance of competing for the overall win.
"It's been my best spring in terms of consistency," Martin told Cyclingnews en route to the Dauphiné.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I've not had a major victory and a certain Spanish fellow has been getting in the way a couple of times but it's been a great, great season so far," he added, referencing his second places to Movistar's Alejandro Valverde in La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
"The consistency has been developing for a couple of years and that's part of it. I've stayed healthy and there's more maturity there as well, and just means that I have less bad days."
The Ardennes aside, Martin's peak performance came at Paris-Nice, where he battled to third overall, only losing second place on the final day of racing. According to Martin that race was a turning point in his season, although it must be added that the time trial – a 14.5-kilometre test to the top of Mont Brouilly – could not have been kinder.
'Missing Alaphillipe only makes us weaker'
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/2sE8yiU
No comments:
Post a Comment