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Dan Martin discussion thread

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happytramp

happytramp

Sep 7, 2011
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Given that he's a regular fixture in the top 10 WT riders at the end of the year and that I expect big things from him this year I felt he deserved his own thread.

Does anyone know what his race programme this year is? I assume he'll focus on the Ardennes and I heard rumors he'll be doing T-A and not defending his Catalunya title. But what about the GT's?

Given that the Giro starts in Ireland it's a sure bet his team will want him there, but given there's only one TT in the Tour he also has a real chance at a top 10 there. Personally though, I think the Vuelta is probably the route most suited to him. A Giro/Tour or a Giro/Vuelta a possibility?
 
Z

Zinoviev Letter

Aug 18, 2010
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Afrank said:
He'll lead Garmin at the Giro.
Click to expand...

Yes this is already confirmed and its likely he will lead or co lead at the Vuelta. That leaves the Tour and potentially co leadership at the Vuelta for Hesjedal and Talansky. Nowadays these three seem to be the undisputed lead riders at Garmin for GTs. Everybody else who can climb is too old, too young or very much a domestique. That's a bit of a shift from Garmin's usual setup, where they rarely had a clear GC hierarchy.

(I suppose Tommy D may still have a last GT top 10 in him)
 
Ruudz0r

Ruudz0r

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Danielson was climbing better then Horner in Utah, so be afraid, be very afraid!!!

Heared that Hesjedal was doing the Giro again aswell so then it would be Martin/Hesjedal for Giro, Talansky for the Tour and then Martin again for the Vuelta (guess Hesjedal is going to do the Canadian races). He might use it as prepartion for the worlds but he will also try to do a good GC I think, he doesnt come to a race to just prepare for a different race.
 
happytramp

happytramp

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He's been very quite so far this year. Hasn't really raced that much. It'll be interesting to see how he goes this week and see if lots of training has the same effect that lots of big races had last year. Certainly podium potential in Leige and F-W.
 
SafeBet

SafeBet

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happytramp said:
He's been very quite so far this year. Hasn't really raced that much. It'll be interesting to see how he goes this week and see if lots of training has the same effect that lots of big races had last year. Certainly podium potential in Leige and F-W.
Click to expand...

Him and Nibali are the two top riders who've made the least noise thus far in 2014. And I'm expecting big things from both in Liege.

As for the Giro, what will he target? Even in such a weak field he doesn't look like a legit podium contender. Mountain jersey and stage hunting? Or is he looking at a top10?
 
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happytramp said:
Given that he's a regular fixture in the top 10 WT riders at the end of the year and that I expect big things from him this year I felt he deserved his own thread.

Does anyone know what his race programme this year is? I assume he'll focus on the Ardennes and I heard rumors he'll be doing T-A and not defending his Catalunya title. But what about the GT's?

Given that the Giro starts in Ireland it's a sure bet his team will want him there, but given there's only one TT in the Tour he also has a real chance at a top 10 there. Personally though, I think the Vuelta is probably the route most suited to him. A Giro/Tour or a Giro/Vuelta a possibility?
Click to expand...

He was in WT top ten two times. I doubt that's fixture.
 
happytramp

happytramp

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SafeBet said:
As for the Giro, what will he target? Even in such a weak field he doesn't look like a legit podium contender. Mountain jersey and stage hunting? Or is he looking at a top10?
Click to expand...

He'll be all out for GC. As to what he can achieve, with Potre gone there's not really many super strong TT'ers that can climb as well as he can. I don't buy into Pozzovivo being a great at TT now and I think that Evans won't stick on the climbs also nout sure Uran looks as strong as last year. I'd say a top 5 could be a possibility.
 
T

theyoungest

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happytramp said:
He'll be all out for GC. As to what he can achieve, with Potre gone there's not really many super strong TT'ers that can climb as well as he can. I don't buy into Pozzovivo being a great at TT now and I think that Evans won't stick on the climbs also nout sure Uran looks as strong as last year. I'd say a top 5 could be a possibility.
Click to expand...
Is Dan Martin such a great climber? What's his record on big climbs in GTs?
 
C

CyclingEnthusiast

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"I wasn't feeling good but that's from coming down from altitude. I've not done that before and so I don't know how long my body takes to adapt. I've been down for five days now and by Wednesday I should be feeling great. I'm still feeling a bit lethargic but I'm not worried at all. It was very much a precautionary thing."
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Seems Dan has finally had a shot off altitude training despite speaking before about how he doesn't usually use it, will be interesting to see if he goes any differently
 
Z

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There was definitely already a Dan Martin thread somewhere.

Today's race, although he got beaten into second, may be one of the most important of his career. It seems to be firm evidence that his notorious allergy problems are at least under control and he didn't just get lucky with the weather last year.
 
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Wasn't planned but apparently not allergy-related either. Sounds like his knee issue due to a crash Sunday was resolved pretty quickly and he is back to 100%.
 
happytramp

happytramp

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Also whatever about a supposed "rivalry" between Dan and Nicolas being unbalanced, they are at least both upper end of the World Tour riders. With all due respect to Neil, who was a good rider and is by all accounts a good guy, the idea of a "rivalry" between a triple crown winner and a British domestic pro is just otherworldly!
 
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hayzer114

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Cant compare Dan Martin and Nico Roche as they are both different type of riders. Dan is a classics specialist and out and out stage hunter. I dont think he will ever feature as a dominant figure in terms of GC in grand tours but he will probably pick up a stage in each grand tour he rides along with picking up classics and week long stage races. Nico in comparison has shown that he is more suited to the grand tours in particular the vuelta. I think Dan will get more wins over his career but Nicolas palmares will show better results in terms of gc in grand tours, so you have to weigh up both. Do you want stage wins or strong overall result??
 
Z

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hayzer114 said:
Cant compare Dan Martin and Nico Roche as they are both different type of riders. Dan is a classics specialist and out and out stage hunter. I dont think he will ever feature as a dominant figure in terms of GC in grand tours but he will probably pick up a stage in each grand tour he rides along with picking up classics and week long stage races. Nico in comparison has shown that he is more suited to the grand tours in particular the vuelta. I think Dan will get more wins over his career but Nicolas palmares will show better results in terms of gc in grand tours, so you have to weigh up both. Do you want stage wins or strong overall result??
Click to expand...

An inconsistent winner will always end up with a much better palmares than a consistent placer.
 
C

CyclingEnthusiast

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hayzer114 said:
Cant compare Dan Martin and Nico Roche as they are both different type of riders. Dan is a classics specialist and out and out stage hunter. I dont think he will ever feature as a dominant figure in terms of GC in grand tours but he will probably pick up a stage in each grand tour he rides along with picking up classics and week long stage races. Nico in comparison has shown that he is more suited to the grand tours in particular the vuelta. I think Dan will get more wins over his career but Nicolas palmares will show better results in terms of gc in grand tours, so you have to weigh up both. Do you want stage wins or strong overall result??
Click to expand...


You may have to revise this post after the Giro
 
P

pmcg76

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hayzer114 said:
Cant compare Dan Martin and Nico Roche as they are both different type of riders. Dan is a classics specialist and out and out stage hunter. I dont think he will ever feature as a dominant figure in terms of GC in grand tours but he will probably pick up a stage in each grand tour he rides along with picking up classics and week long stage races. Nico in comparison has shown that he is more suited to the grand tours in particular the vuelta. I think Dan will get more wins over his career but Nicolas palmares will show better results in terms of gc in grand tours, so you have to weigh up both. Do you want stage wins or strong overall result??
Click to expand...

I think if Dan targets GC, he could easily outdo Roche. The Vuelta is easily the weakest of the GTs and if Dan focused on it as Nico does, I could see him close to the podium.
 
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