Danny boy

[Eric8-A]

Garmin's Dan Martin says he's been plagued with sinus problems the past years and because of that, it interferes with his racing. During the off season, he underwent surgery and he now says he can breath alot better. Garmin has said he will lead the Giro along with LeMevel. JV has said that Dan can be a future contender for GT's in the future. He had a great 2010. Now with his sinus problems taken care of, what can you expect from him in 2011 and in the future? Will he really be a Grand Tour contender, a contender for the Ardennes or something else?

 

[ingsve]

Garmin's Dan Martin says he's been plagued with sinus problems the past years and because of that, it interferes with his racing. During the off season, he underwent surgery and he now says he can breath alot better. Garmin has said he will lead the Giro along with LeMevel. JV has said that Dan can be a future contender for GT's in the future. He had a great 2010. Now with his sinus problems taken care of, what can you expect from him in 2011 and in the future? Will he really be a Grand Tour contender, a contender for the Ardennes or something else?

From how he's been riding in the races he has won so far he at least has the winning and attacking mentality that is needed for someone like him to make it in GTs. If he can develop further in the very highest mountains then he could probably be a top 10 candidate and from there it's a matter or how good he can get compared to other riders of the same type. His ITT is a weakness though and without a decent ITT it will be hard to actually win GTs with the amount of climbing talent that is currently dominating GTs.

My prediction is that his best result in a GT will be a podium in the vuelta in 2016.

 

[Jamsque]

I'm yet to be convinced he has the staying power to win a three week tour, but if he keeps developing the way he has been the Ardennes ought to be within his reach.

 

[Eric8-A]

So maybe he can become a Frank Schleck type of rider? Or somewhere along that calibur?

 

[ingsve]

So maybe he can become a Frank Schleck type of rider? Or somewhere along that calibur?

Ya, I think that's a close comparison to the type of rider he would be if he can show that he can manage big alpes and three weeks.

 

[Martin318is]

I just hope the operation turns out to be completely successful for him. My wife had similar surgery around 10 years ago and she still has trouble in certain situations - such as humidity changes moving from air-conditioned to non airconditioned environments. It has the effect of completely blocking her nose and giving her a headache nearly instantly..

 

[Eric8-A]

I've had problems with my nose ever since I was a kid. It usually began during winter, my noses would get really stuffed. Two years ago, it turned into a year round thing. Both my nostrils would get blocked to the point where I had to breath through my mouth and I couldn't sleep because I wasn't able to breath. Now, I carry a bottle of nasal spray everywhere I go and use it about 5 to six times a day and have gone through several of them. I went to the doctor to see what can be done, but since I didn't have insurance, there was nothing they could do but give me meds. My insurance should be valid by the end of the month and when it does, that's one of the first things I'm gonna get checked.

 

[brianf7]

I have had trouble since I splattered my nose on a police car windscreen 40 years ago especialy in cold weather . one advantage it gets the sit in sprinters off your wheel when I blow it.

Tried all the gimmicks breath easy and all that but hate the thought of more surgery had enough.

Nose jobs are worst injurys.

 

[ericfalcon]

I had a nose/septum/sinus job when i was 17. It was pretty painful but has given me almost 20 years of clear breathing. Well worth a few days of discomfort.

 

[royalpig180]

I see him being a serious contender in the Ardennes classics, but as for contending in a GT, unlikely. Aside from the above-mentioned ITT weakness, I think his climbing in the high mountains even after this surgery is not going to be on a par with the kind of climber it takes to win a GT. Week long stages races could be a better target for him if he can improve the ITT a little bit.

 

[theyoungest]

I see him being a serious contender in the Ardennes classics, but as for contending in a GT, unlikely. Aside from the above-mentioned ITT weakness, I think his climbing in the high mountains even after this surgery is not going to be on a par with the kind of climber it takes to win a GT. Week long stages races could be a better target for him if he can improve the ITT a little bit.

About the only stage he did good at in last year's Giro was the Zoncolan, I think he got a top-10 there. The climbing doesn't seem to be the problem, it's the consistency. But maybe that had everything to do with his breathing problems, because in the fall he seemed to have quite a long stretch of very strong performances, culminating in the Giro dell'Emilia, where he beat an on-form Nibali and Scarponi quite convincingly.

 

[The Hitch]

Funny that we have had 2 seperate threads about Daaaaan Martin called "Danny Boy". Is that his nickname now then?

Danis best chance was to declare British citizenship and have Sky take him on board as their big hope for the "win a TDF with a British rider" project (i dont include the 5 years bit because it makes me feel embarrased for them). He would never win it but would actually be up there.

But Dani won my Tour so i cheer for him. He came 10th on the Zonc so there is hope there.

Oh and as far as gts go - Daniel Martin> Daniel Martins cousin, though its niky whose being billed as the gt rider.

 

[theyoungest]

Oh and as far as gts go - Daniel Martin> Daniel Martins cousin, though its niky whose being billed as the gt rider.

So far, Martin has done next to nothing in GTs, and Roche did quite well in the Tour and Vuelta. Martin is the more talented climber, but the ability to do it again and again... that's what GT riding is about.

 

[The Hitch]

So far, Martin has done next to nothing in GTs, and Roche did quite well in the Tour and Vuelta. Martin is the more talented climber, but the ability to do it again and again... that's what GT riding is about.

Nicholas Roche is 2 years older than Daniel Martin. 2 years ago he hadnt done much in gts either. He has focused on trying to be a gc guy because of his fathers success but many believe that he just didnt have that natural climbing ability to start with and his attempts at gts are a bit forced. Kind of like Wiggins (though WIggins does have that great tour finish). Daniel on the other hand has the natural climbing ability. He can improve like Roche did but he has the advantage of a so much better starting point to begin with.

Having said that, this argument would have looked a lot better in August before Nicholas Roche showed very good strenght in the Vuelta climbs.

Well see in 2 years if Daniel is yet to achieve a Vuelta top 10 type finish.

 

[ingsve]

Nicholas Roche is 2 years older than Daniel Martin. 2 years ago he hadnt done much in gts either. He has focused on trying to be a gc guy because of his fathers success but many believe that he just didnt have that natural climbing ability to start with and his attempts at gts are a bit forced. Kind of like Wiggins (though WIggins does have that great tour finish). Daniel on the other hand has the natural climbing ability. He can improve like Roche did but he has the advantage of a so much better starting point to begin with.

Having said that, this argument would have looked a lot better in August before Nicholas Roche showed very good strenght in the Vuelta climbs.

Well see in 2 years if Daniel is yet to achieve a Vuelta top 10 type finish.

They are also two diffrent types of climbers. Roche is 8 kg heavier and is more the type of climber that sets his own pace to get up mountains comfortably while Martin is more a pure climbing type that can handle multiple accelerations better. The Roche type usually has an easier time being consistent in getting relatively high results but the pure climber type usually has higher overall potential for finishing high on GC.

 

[simo1733]

Funny that we have had 2 seperate threads about Daaaaan Martin called "Danny Boy". Is that his nickname now then?

Danis best chance was to declare British citizenship and have Sky take him on board as their big hope for the "win a TDF with a British rider" project (i dont include the 5 years bit because it makes me feel embarrased for them). He would never win it but would actually be up there.

But Dani won my Tour so i cheer for him. He came 10th on the Zonc so there is hope there.

Oh and as far as gts go - Daniel Martin> Daniel Martins cousin, though its niky whose being billed as the gt rider.

I think he has been a British citizen all along.He just rode for Ireland because he didn't fit in with GB's very track focused program.
No doubt he is the outstanding candidate to implement SKY's 5 year plan.Is his younger brother any good?I believe he is riding in France.

 

[The Hitch]

I think he has been a British citizen all along.He just rode for Ireland because he didn't fit in with GB's very track focused program.
No doubt he is the outstanding candidate to implement SKY's 5 year plan.Is his younger brother any good?I believe he is riding in France.

Its too late now (as far as Daniel goes). Hes already been Irish nat champ. He made his choice. **** him

As for his brother, Sky should sign him up and pray that he is the Andrew to Daniels Frank.

 

[boardhanger]

Fact, Irish cycling has been way more succesful than British cycling. Britain 60 million people. Ireland 4.5 million. Do the math. Look at the results. Danny Boy knows this...........(even Cavendish says he's a Celt, also)

 

[dolophonic]

I like Dan and will be rooting for him.

Some people like to try and be divisive. Divide and conquer, keep trying !

The thread is about D Martin.. i think he's good.

 

[Eric8-A]

He should stick to being Irish

I would like to see him attack some of the top climbers. Whether it be in the Giro or the Vuelta to see if he has the ability to solo away from them like he did in Poland.

 

[theyoungest]

He should stick to being Irish

I would like to see him attack some of the top climbers. Whether it be in the Giro or the Vuelta to see if he has the ability to solo away from them like he did in Poland.

He did, in the Giro dell'Emilia. At least for a little while it seemed he was going solo to the finish. Gesink, Scarponi, and Nibali could hardly keep up, Ricco and Tondo were nowhere to be seen at the end.

 

[boardhanger]

He's young and the Irish do not put pressure on their riders to perform. Unlike in Britain where the media will destroy you, overkill with promotions untill they burn you up and spit you out. Dan Martin made the correct choice.

 

[The Hitch]

He's young and the Irish do not put pressure on their riders to perform. Unlike in Britain where the media will destroy you, overkill with promotions untill they burn you up and spit you out. Dan Martin made the correct choice.

Wrong.

The British media doesn't care about cycling.

Theres more hype on 14 year olds to win the junior girls US Open titlte, than there is on Wiggins to win the Tour.

There would be absolutely no hype to Daniel Martin, just lots of support from SKy.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I thought I'd resurrect this thread.

Very nice win for Martin today in Poland. I thought he was done after he ran out of climb during his first attack and was brought back on the descent. And certainly when I saw Sagan superglued to his wheel, I didn't think he could get rid of the rest of them again on the shallower final climb.

It's very unfortunate that his allergies basically destroy his chances in the Ardennes and at the Giro, the races that really should suit him best. But already this year, he's had some nice results, winning Toscana, 3rd in GC at Catalunya, winning the, erm, "Queen Stage" in Poland.

If he has this form in the Vuelta, it will be very interesting to see how he mixes it with the GT big guns. When he really blitzes it on a climb, there don't seem to be many who can stay with him. As of yet, though, he still hasn't shown that he has the ability to ride consistently for three weeks.

 

[will10]

If he gets a free role in the Vuelta I would say he's a great pick for a stage win. Not sure he should be riding for GC yet, three weeks is a long time.