Dan Martin is never afraid to attack and take a risk to try to win races. And he showed the same determination and conviction when he decided to join UAE Team Emirates for 2018 with a role as leader for the Tour de France rather than an equally well-paid but less-pressured role at Team Sky.
The Irishman turned 31 last August and could have opted for the more comfortable option and signed up with the British squad as a replacement for Mikel Landa and the role of understudy to Chris Froome in July. However, after his sixth and ninth places in the last two editions of the Tour de France, he is convinced overall victory at the Tour de France is within his reach.
“I always said I wouldn’t wholly focus on the Tour de France but that’s not the case anymore,” Martin tells Cyclingnews in his first major interview since swapping the dark blue of Quick-Step Floors for the green, white and black of UAE Team Emirates for 2018.
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“Of course I’m going to target the Ardennes Classics too this spring but I’d regret it massively if I ended my career without going all out for the Tour.
“I’d love to get through the 2018 Tour de France healthily and without crashing, to see what I can really do. I’d love to start the race knowing I’ve got the best team there to support me and everything in place. It was great riding for Quick-Step Floors but I’ve got a new level of belief in my ability and I need to understand how far it will take me.”
Martin suffered during the 2017 Tour de France after crashing with Richie Porte (BMC) on stage 9. He was able to race on but struggled even to stand up after the stage and was diagnosed with two fractured vertebrae after finishing sixth overall, 4:42 down on Chris Froome, but only 2:22 down on third-placed Roman Bardet.
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