Tony Martin - how good could he be?

[DaveyJohnston]

Once you get overthe fact that:
a - You went to school with a lad called Tony Martin
b - He might be a character off Hollyoaks

Are we looking at Grand Tour Rider?

He can time trial the nuts of most people.
He can climb - not an out and out climber but can climb
He has Jens Voigt style pain threshold (None)
He's only 23

Is this his first grand tour?

 

[Ibanez]

He rode the giro last year, coming second behind Pinotti in the final TT.

So yeah, he is looking to become very very good.

 

[Zambeaux]

Nope, he rode last year's Giro. He's a great time-trialist, and has proven to be able to be in front on "power" climbs like the ones in Switzerland this year. He's a very strong rider, and young enough to expect of him some progression in its climbing, but he can't always rely on his strength: he has to improve on his race tactics, and of course the descents...

Maybe he could target races like Paris-Nice next year; then we'll see.

 

[Amsterhammer]

One of the riders I'll be following very closely in the Tour. He was certainly 'eye-catching' in Switzerland.

 

[DaveyJohnston]

And what were Lance and Big Mig doing at 23?

 

[Zambeaux]

Well, Miguel was winning Valles Mineros and Armstrong was wearing the rainbow jersey... and Fignon was winning his second Tour, for example.