Despite a late mechanical in the stage 4 time trial at the Criterium du Dauphine, Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) remains upbeat and ready for the mountain stages of this year's race.
The Irish Quick-Step Floors rider placed 26th in the individual test on stage 4, crossing the line 1:08 down on stage winner and race favourite, Richie Porte (BMC). Yet Martin was satisfied with his legs and carries that form and confidence into the three final stages, all of which are in the mountains.
"The time trial was maybe a more important test for me than stage 6 and I was really happy with how it went. I should have been better in the end of the time trial but it wasn't to be," he told Cyclingnews.
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Friday's sixth stage features the highly anticipated climb of Mont du Chat, which will feature in this year's Tour de France. As the first major mountain test of this year's Dauphine it is set to cause splits in the field but the ascent is one that should suit Martin, with the 15 per cent pitches offering him multiple opportunities to attack before the sketchy descent to the finish in La Motte-Servolex.
"I had a few problems in the last 10 kilometres of the TT but it's going to be good to see the climb on stage 6 ahead of the Tour. I'm interested in seeing the last downhill. I hear it's technical and fast. The climb looks really hard."
After finishing third overall in the Dauphine last year, and enjoying a consistently strong campaign this time around, much is expected of Martin in this race.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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