Irish rider Dan Martin was attacking and was in a good position in the finale at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. But then disaster would strike for the UAE Team Emirates man.
Disaster hits Dan Martin in Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Several times this season Dan Martin has bemoaned his back luck, and it did not change today at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
The Irishman’s squad, UAE Team Emirates, rode at the front for much of the second half of the race, with Martin looking very comfortable.
However, in the business end of the classic, and after he had made the key selection, he suffered a puncture.
He was forced to stop and was helped by neutral service. As he saw his race slip away he vent his disbelief and frustration; holding his hands in his head.
And while he got going again relatively quickly, his opportunity was gone.
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Bob Jungels (QuickStep) had been leading solo for 12km at that point and he would take a fantastic victory on his own.
Astana was on the front of the select group chasing Jungels hard when Dan Martin punctured.
It meant Martin’s chances of even getting back into the group he’d been with were nil. In the end he had to be content with 18th on the day, some 2:41 down on Jungels.
#LBL @LiegeBastogneL -8k a meta / Dan Martin pincha en el peor momento pic.twitter.com/IEUmjD36eI
— Mundo Ciclistico (@mundociclistico) April 22, 2018
Michael Woods (EF Education First-Drapac) and Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) attacked the chase group to take 2nd and 3rd places.
La Fleche Wallonne winner Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep) finished fourth having covered the attacks in pursuit of Jungels so well.
How Liege-Bastogne-Liege was won and lost
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When the Roche-aux-Faucons climb was crested with 20km remaining, a group of about 15-20 favourites had gone clear.
Dan Martin was there; right on the back tucked in out of the breeze with fellow heavy-hitter Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida).
Bob Jungels (QuickStep) would press on to lead alone; slipping away off the front right on the top of the hill.
And though his nudging ahead initially looked innocuous, it was to prove the winning of the race.
Just two kilometres further on, Dan Martin would attack the group in pursuit of Jungels.
Martin immediately pulled out a decent gap, with Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) going after him and catching him.
However, when Wellens went past Martin and did a big turn, the Irishman was on the ropes and immediately lost the wheel.
Alaphilippe then caught them, with last year’s winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). It was a short-lived move as the rest of the favourites were soon on their back wheels.
While Martin had looked strong in taking the initiative, he seemed to struggle when Wellens turned the screw.
However, with 16km to go Martin attacked again and was followed by Wellens again. This time the move was snuffed out once more; Mitchelton Scott not letting them go.
As soon as they were caught, Valverde attacked; the gap to Jungels having reached 28 seconds at that point.
Valverde’s attack was soon neutralised, by Alaphilippe. And with 12.6km to go Dan Martin went for a third time; now joined by Tim Dumoulin (Sunweb).
Jungels had 35 seconds at that point as they hurtled into the outskirts of Liege. But Martin and Dumoulin were quickly recaptured.
And then, having been so aggressive; with 8km to go Dan Martin punctured.
While he got a very quick change, Jungels had 45 seconds at the time. And Astana were chasing him at the front of the group the Irish rider punctured from.
It meant Martin’s race was effectively over. And while stopped he knew it; holding his head in his hands out of frustration.
On the run-in to the finish, he lost two minutes to those he had been with. The only other Irishman in the race was Eddie Dunbar.
The young Aqua Blue Sport rider would finish; a good result in itself. He came home in 106th; part of a small group some 14:32 down.
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