Dan Martin discussion thread

[Leinster]

He seems to be able to open a gap on Carthy when the stages end with an uphill sprint but think there's only a couple more and they could go to the break.

I think they'll certainly go to the break.

He has his stage win. 4th place would be his career-best GT finish. This race is already a success if he doesn't move up on gc. But he should definitely try.

It might not be Carthy who cracks, it might be Carapaz, or even Roglic, (although it might also be Dan himself). But I think there are opportunities there for a rider like Martin, if the team ride the final week clever.

 

[will-10]

I don't think he'll be too disappointed with 4th and a stage win. Relying on the strength of others & their teams to get on the podium now unfortunately.

Most of all I hope for no bad luck for Dan, he's had enough of that.

 

[jmdirt]

Congrats Dan!

 

[Bonimenier]

On Dutch Eurosport they announced him as the rider with the nicest teeth before his flash interview. A tad disrespectful for what the guy has done in his career so far.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

Stages in all 3 grand tours (a chance of top 10's overall as well), Liege, Lombardia and a major stage race in Catulunya. I'm sure the only things he'll look back on with a hint of disappointment are no Fleche - after all the years of trying, and missing out on a grand tour podium.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Congratulations to the Irishman with ugliest style, the ugliest teeth and the biggest fighting spirit in modern cycling. With less than two minutes at the foot of the final climb I didn't think he had a chance, but he rode an impressive final climb.

 

[Victor S]

His fighting spirit is huge. After such a long break climbing that fast is without doubt a great performance. Well deserved!

 

[Leinster]

Stages in all 3 grand tours (a chance of top 10's overall as well), Liege, Lombardia and a major stage race in Catulunya. I'm sure the only things he'll look back on with a hint of disappointment are no Fleche - after all the years of trying, and missing out on a grand tour podium.

Will he have one more crack at Flèche next year? I know he’s said his main reason for not doing it this year was to prepare for the Giro, so that’s mission accomplished now.

He’s 35 in August, but then, he’s spent the last 8 years seemingly constantly battling with Valverde, so probably thinks he has a few left in him...

 

[Bonimenier]

Will he have one more crack at Flèche next year? I know he’s said his main reason for not doing it this year was to prepare for the Giro, so that’s mission accomplished now.

He’s 35 in August, but then, he’s spent the last 8 years seemingly constantly battling with Valverde, so probably thinks he has a few left in him...

He could try, but it's hard to imagine him winning it with the guys currently focusing on the Ardennes.

 

[BlueRoads]

Definitely worth a win this fight, but it's just really tough to watch him on a bike.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Definitely worth a win this fight, but it's just really tough to watch him on a bike.

I find it so much easier to empathise with the pros who have appalling looking styles, the guys who look like a grumpy chicken stomping across a yard. I think the main reason I’ve cheered for Bauke Mollema his whole career is that he always looks as if he’s going to put himself off balance with his bobbing head.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I like riders, who really seem to be giving it their all in a fight against their bike, the road and their body. There is a fine line though, and Martin is on the right side of it, while young Vansevenant has stepped over it.

 

[BlueRoads]

I like riders, who really seem to be giving it their all in a fight against their bike, the road and their body. There is a fine line though, and Martin is on the right side of it, while young Vansevenant has stepped over it.

The opposite for me. I find Martin's and Mollema's and some other's styles just ugly - whereas Vansevenant looks hilarious and funny to me.

But in general I really prefer riders with a smooth style or those who just look like they can handle their bikes perfectly.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The opposite for me. I find Martin's and Mollema's and some other's styles just ugly - whereas Vansevenant looks hilarious and funny to me.

But in general I really prefer riders with a smooth style or those who just look like they can handle their bikes perfectly.

I just hate to look at a rider, who has a very smooth style, get dropped, because it looks like he could do more to hang on (which of course isn't the case).

You never thought Chris Anker Sørensen was soft pedaling, but unfortunately he didn't have a finish like Martin and Mollema.
Judged by this photo even his daughter could beat him in a sprint.

 

[happytramp]

A rider fighting with themselves and their bike, in agony, through gritted teeth, trying to force every last ounce of strength to win is a far more enduring image of the sport for me than an effortless looking ride across the finish line.

 

[johnymax]

I said in the race thread, that he was brilliant/fantastic/phenomenal, I forgot which adjective I used. But after re-watching the stage, I changed my mind. He was even more brilliant/fantastic/phenomenal than I thought at first. He had 1 minute on the pink jersey group at 10km to go. One of the rides of this Giro.

 

[Leinster]

I said in the race thread, that he was brilliant/fantastic/phenomenal, I forgot which adjective I used. But after re-watching the stage, I changed my mind. He was even more brilliant/fantastic/phenomenal than I thought at first. He had 1 minute on the pink jersey group at 10km to go. One of the rides of this Giro.

I'm just watching again too. He had just over 2 minutes at the foot of the 2nd last climb. He accelerated then, and trimmed the group down to just the guys he wanted to bring with him.

Then they started the final climb with about a minute and a half, and he dropped them too. Just an all-round masterclass. Picked his day, and pulled it off.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Nice win today on stage 17.

 

[Avoriaz]

I think it is impossible not to like Dan Martin. He is like the Rocky Balboa of cycling - the unknown nobody parachuted into the grand peloton of panache. Yes, he rides like Paula Radcliffe runs, and he has the palest legs in the bunch. The club rider who took a wrong turn onto the racecourse and held on for victory through heart and grit. That he has a huge amount of talent often goes forgotten.

 

[Sciatic]

Wow, almost unbelievable that any team with a potential GC contender would skip doing a recon of the Montalcino gravel sections . . . Yet Martin didn’t do a recon, and then was taken aback by the difficulty of the 1st section and lost 6 minutes! It almost seems like deciding to just stick one’s head in the sand (gravel?) and pretend it will work out fine.
On the other hand, impressive he was able to come back from COVID so quickly, glad he managed that.

Dan Martin impresses at Giro d'Italia despite spring COVID

Israel Start-Up leader takes mountain stage and tenth overall despite losing time on dirt roads

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[WKA311]

I'm also not sure how he impressed at the Giro. At least not in a way that would warrant such an article. He had an amazing performance to get his stage win, really really good. But other than that he was worse than at the Vuelta last year I think?

Hell, Bardet put 1.5 minutes into him in that last TT and his climbing was very hit or miss.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'm also not sure how he impressed at the Giro. At least not in a way that would warrant such an article. He had an amazing performance to get his stage win, really really good. But other than that he was worse than at the Vuelta last year I think?

Hell, Bardet put 1.5 minutes into him in that last TT and his climbing was very hit or miss.

I agree with the overall point, but I doubt he was going full gas in the ITT considering he had nothing to gain from it really.
Maybe he could have done a little better on some of the mountain stages if he hadn't lost all that time in Montalcino. I wonder what role he's going to have in the Tour, but I guess that will depend on Woods's level.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I've never been more nervous in a race than his final corner in Lombardia after he'd decked it in that years Liege.

3:40

How The Race Was Won®

How The Race Was Won®, pro cycling and racing sports strategy, tactics, recaps, and humor

howtheracewaswon.com

"I get knocked down, but I get up again'

That attack with the Panda running alongside, absolutely iconic.

 

[Leinster]

I’ve never seen that Lombardia HTRWW before. That was a great win.

His stage win at the Giro this year was one of his most impressive ever rides.

 

[Black Betsy]

So long to the ultimate cycling physiognomy and overlord of the 19th Japan Cup !