Having been hit badly by his Giro crash, Dan Martin bounced back well towards the end of the season and can go a lot further with his new team next year.
Brian Canty
With one glance at the composition of Dan Martin’s new Cannondale-Garmin team for next season it becomes apparent the Irishman is the stand out rider in the squad.
And aside from Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal, he is the most successful.
The 27-rider roster is thin on the ground in terms of established names, though there are a number in the squad perhaps just a season or two away from real greatness.
And a focus on development has always been a central theme for team principal Jonathan Vaughters, hence the myriad new faces.
But it means Martin is now the natural leader of the amalgamated squad, created by the coming together of the Garmin and Cannondale WorldTour teams.
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The time trial has never been a strong point for Martin, but with racing against the clock down to a minimum in the Tour de France next year, it could be a fantastic opportunity for him.
Sixteen riders from the Garmin-Sharp team Martin rode with this year have been retained.
They join forces with eight from Cannondale and some exciting prospects who are coming into the set-up for next year.
They include Joe Dombrowski (Sky), Kristoffer Skjerping (Team Joker) and Ruben Zepuntke (Bissell Development Team).
It will come as a relief to Martin that some of those riders who have been closest to him, and played the biggest role in his successes, will be by his side again in 2015.
Unquestionably, Hesjedal has been his biggest ally.
Martin's Giro ended with this team time trial crash in Belfast. However, the squad for the Tour de France will likely be built around him next year.
The Canadian has paved the way for a string of Martin’s finest moments; last year’s Liege Bastogne Liege triumph as well as this year’s stage win at the Tour of Beijing just two standout moments.
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Aside from those wins, Hesjedal has been in Martin’s corner for his Volta A Catalunya win last year as well as his runner up spot in Fleche Wallone this year, his Tour of Lombardy win in October and his seventh overall at the Vuelta a month previous.
It’s impossible to understate the former Giro d’Italia winner’s influence on Martin and the team, particularly in the absences of the retired David Millar, Christian Vande Velde and David Zabriskie.
It’s worth noting too the influence of the likes of domestiques Jack Bauer, Andre Cardoso, Alex Howes and Nathan Haas; riders who have played equally key roles in Martin’s finest moments.
Martin has given us some fantastic moments; this recent win in the Tour of Lombardy will not be the last major triumph he records.
Just like at the ill-fated Giro this year, it’s highly likely the team will be built around Martin for next year’s Tour de France; a race that looks perfect for him on paper.
Of the nine-man Garmin-Sharp team that started this year’s Giro – a team Martin believed could have given him a great chance of an overall result - four will be with him next year.
The aforementioned Haas will be there as well as Cardoso, Hesjedal and Dylan Van Baarle, the exciting young Dutchman who won the Tour of Briatin in September.
And with riders such as this year’s Criterium du Dauphine winner Andrew Talansky, Tour de France stage winner Ramunas Navardauskas and talented climbers Janier Acevedo, Tom Jelte Slagter and Joe Dombrowski in the team, it looks like another exciting year is in store for Martin.
Martin was in with a great shout at the World Championships until a crash just as the real racing was starting put him off the back and chasing (Photo: Sean Rowe)
And former pro turned team director Charly Wegelius is certainly of that mindset.
“Anytime you have the benefit of youth and experience, you are poised for growth and opportunity,” he said.
“Every rider on this team is capable of greatness, and together as a team, we have huge potential.
“Our goal will be to harness that potential, relying on our more experienced guys, to create a very exciting year.”
We'll have a full-length interview with Martin very soon where he reviews the highs and lows of his 2014 season and looks ahead to next year.
Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling 2015
(Last year's teams in brackets)
Janier Acevedo (Garmin-Sharp)
Jack Bauer (Garmin-Sharp)
Alberto Bettiol (Cannondale)
Nathan Brown (Garmin-Sharp)
André Cardoso (Garmin-Sharp)
Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp)
Joe Dombrowski (Sky)
Davide Formolo (Cannondale)
Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp)
Lasse Hansen (Garmin-Sharp)
Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp)
Alex Howes (Garmin-Sharp)
Ben King (Garmin-Sharp)
Ted King (Cannondale)
Kristjian Koren (Cannondale)
Sebastian Langeveld (Garmin-Sharp)
Alan Marangoni (Cannondale)
Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp)
Matej Mohoric (Cannondale)
Moreno Moser (Cannondale)
Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin-Sharp)
Kristoffer Skjerping (Team Joker)
Tom Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Sharp)
Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Sharp)
Dylan Van Baarle (Garmin-Sharp)
Davide Villella (Cannondale)
Ruben Zepuntke (Bissell Development Team)
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