Dan Martin makes history for Ireland; takes heroic Tour win on epic stage after 21-year wait

Dan Martin takes an epic stage win in the mountains at the Tour de France, taking stage 8 into Bagnères-de-Bigorre after stage-long carnage.

By Gavin McLoughlin

Dan Martin brilliantly ended Ireland’s 21 year wait for a Tour de France stage win after taking victory on stage 9 today, Sunday.

The Garmin-Sharp leader outsprinted Astana leader Jakob Fuglsang after both men managed to avoid being caught by the chasing group of favourites on a long downhill run to the finish-line.

The move was sparked when Martin danced away from the overall favourites on the day’s final climb, taking the Dane for company.

The duo worked well together on the 30 kilometre descent into Bagnères-de-Bigorre, but Martin had the quickest gallop and crossed the line first to take a famous victory.

Punching the air in triumph and grinning his wonderful grin, the Garmin-Sharp leader became the first Irishman to take a Tour de France stage win since his uncle Stephen Roche won stage 16 of the 1992 Tour.

With some of the biggest names in cycling giving chase behind, it appeared for a time as if the brave Irishman’s efforts would come to nothing. But he and Fuglsang heroically held on out front and eventually finished 20 seconds ahead of the rest.

His epic triumph propels the Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner into 8thplace on general classification, 2:28 behind overall leader Chris Froome (Sky). With his confidence sure to be buoyed by today’s win, the Irishman is more than capable of mounting an assault on the yellow jersey.

But no matter what transpires over the remainder of this race, all of Ireland should be hugely proud of this humble, classy and ferociously talented athlete.

Martin’s cousin Nicolas Roche will be as thrilled as anyone at today’s result, but Roche should also be proud of himself after performing sterling work for his team leader Alberto Contador today.

In an action-packed early part of the stage, the Saxo-Tinkoff super-domestique again demonstrated his skill on the downslopes, bridging across to the group of favourites after being distanced on the second ascent of the day, the first category Col de Menté.

Shortly thereafter, Roche powerfully spearheaded his team’s effort to close a gap that emerged between Contador and race-leader Chris Froome.

The Irishman’s selfless exertions meant he again lost contact on the third climb of the day, and Roche ultimately arrived home in a sizeable gruppetto, 26:20 behind stage-winner Martin.

After an arduous day on which Froome’s rivals tried but failed to take some time from the Sky leader, Roche will need to be ready to enter service again as Contador strives to claim the overall victory.

On paper, this day always looked to afford a breakaway a chance to succeed. Some shrewdly tipped Martin to succeed, but for most the day began in hope rather than expectation.

Four first-category climbs would be scaled in an arduous 169 kilometre trek from Saint-Girons to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, with the final ascent peaking at 30 kilometres out before a mostly downhill run to the finish-line.

There were a slew of attacks in the early part of the morning and those with tired legs began to lose contact with the peloton on the first climb, the second-category Col de Portet-d’Aspet which began some 20 kilometres in.

Martin’s Garmin-Sharp team were particularly active and when the Irishman moved to the front his fast tempo scattered riders all over the slope. Race-leader Chris Froome (Sky Procycling) was watchful and rode across to the Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner, but the Sky leader had no teammates with him and he did not follow when a strong-looking Martin nipped away.

The pace was eye-wateringly high and Martin formed part of a dangerous group of about 15 or 20 riders that dangled up the road ahead of the yellow jersey wearer. Froome now had top lieutenant Richie Porte alongside him and together the Sky men brought Martin and the rest of the escapees back.

But Porte was suffering and soon the Sky leader would again be isolated among his rivals. 45 kilometres in and amazingly the group of favourites consisted of only about 30 riders. Martin was among them, but Roche, unfortunately, was not.

The attacks kept coming as first Yury Trofimov (Katusha) and Tom Danielson (Garmin-Sharp) darted away from the group, shortly to be followed by Danielson’s teammate and 2012 Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal.

Riding just ahead of Froome, Roche’s team leader Alberto Contador was scheming and after the Spaniard had a word in the ear of Rui Costa (Movistar), the Portuguese was next to go.

Many pundits proclaimed the race to be over in the wake of Sky’s dominance yesterday, but with all the attacks this morning it is clear that Froome will not be allowed to take the overall win without a fight. Rider after rider steamed out the front as Froome jabbered into his team radio, surely bewildered at the crazy turn events had taken.

Roche was in the third group on the road alongside 2011 winner Cadel Evans, and on the descent of the day’s second climb – the first category Col de Menté – the fearless Irishman managed to rejoin his team leader.

Into a valley and his rivals continued to work Froome over. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) struck out and Froome felt obligated to follow, placing him in a four man group with Valverde and two of the Spaniard’s lieutenants. This quartet eventually caught the larger contingent up the road.

Behind, Nicolas Roche was doing an impressive job leading the group containing Alberto Contador. The Spaniard’s demeanor was relaxed and was he certain to be pleased by the fireworks.

But there was no way this level of aggression could continue all stage and as the third climb of the day – the Col de Peyresourde - approached there was a ceasefire. Roche’s contribution helped to bring the Froome and Contador groups back together as one, and now just two small contingents were left out ahead of the overall favourites.

When the road went up again, a tired Roche was shelled out the back of the favourites’ group, and Movistar set about the job of policing the front.

Martin was safely ensconced alongside the big names as the summit of the Peyresourde drew near. Froome’s Sky teammates were desperately trying to re-establish contact with their leader, but looked to be making little progress.

There was some brief respite on the descent of the Peyresourde but before long the riders would be suffering again on the slopes of the Col de Val Louron-Azet. Richie Porte looked to have rediscovered his climbing legs and had separated himself from the rest of the Sky team, the Tasmanian tapping out a steady rhythm and gaining ground on his leader’s group.

However, the massed ranks of Movistar remained in control and an injection of pace from the men in navy saw the gap to Porte quickly drift out again.

Simon Clarke of Orica-Green Edge was the strongest of the riders that remained ahead of the favourites’ group and he crossed the summit of the penultimate climb alone.

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Onto the final climb and you waited for the attacking to resume. The final escapees were gobbled up and still Movistar set the pace.
Martin was grimacing and dipping his shoulders in that instantly recognizable style, and still no-one would try their luck.

Less than 5 kilometres to the summit and it was Nairo Quintana (Movistar) who lit the touch-paper.

The Colombian was quickly reeled in and then came the glorious moment where Dan Martin thrust himself out the front and set off in search of triumph. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) latched on to the Garmin-Sharp leader’s wheel, and though Quintana continued to throw little attacks at Froome behind, Martin and Fuglsang were able to establish a decent advantage.

The Dane and the Irishman continued to work well together and Martin led the way through a heaving sea of spectators to crest the mountain first. Wouter Poels of Vacansoleil unsuccessfully tried to bridge across and the leading duo’s advantage continued to grow as they started the long descent to the finish-line.

Martin and Fuglsang plummeted towards Bagnères-de-Bigorre as their gap grew to almost a minute. When the chasers finally got themselves organised, the lead began to decrease slowly and the awful fear that this would be a near miss began to form.

But not today. The valiant duo held the hordes at bay, and when Martin dipped into the final bend you knew he would have Fuglsang’s number. Mercifully, marvelously, that was just how it proved. What a day for Irish cycling.

Tomorrow is a rest day in Saint-Nazaire and the race resumes on Tuesday with a 197 kilometre run from Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Saint Malo. That stage looks to be one for the fast men.

The Irish duo will certainly be glad of a break after a grueling two days in the mountains, but with a stage victory under his belt, Martin’s legs will feel a whole lot better tonight. Many more opportunities for glory lie ahead of the Garmin-Sharp leader in this race, so let’s hope he doesn’t stop at just the one.

@gavmcloughlin