Despite describing it as "one of the hardest days I've ever had on the bike", Dan Martin clearly relished the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné – and not just because it saw him leap from eighth to third overall.
The Quick-Step rider attacked on the final climb to Plateau de Solaison, the last of four major climbs crammed into the 115 kilometres, to finish second on a dramatic day that saw Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) rob Richie Porte (BMC) of the yellow jersey and overall victory.
"Wow, what a stage," said Martin, speaking to Cyclingnews under the baking sun at the Plateau de Solaison.
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"It was just an epic day. On every climb I think an attack went in and we were down to seven or eight riders. I wish it was on television all day – that's what bike racing is all about. It was such an aggressive day's racing. If it was televised from the start, then what an advert for cycling."
It has been proved with increasing frequency that short mountain stages lend themselves to attacking racing and the action between the general classification contenders duly kicked off on first climb, the Col de Saises. There were more attacks on the Aravis but it was on the Colombière that Porte was isolated and dropped, setting up a nail-biting final climb as the Australian tried to cling on.
"Richie did one hell of a ride with everyone ganging up on him," said Martin in his ITV interview. "I wasn't attacking but everyone else seemed to be taking it in turns to attack him and then make him him work.
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