Dan Martin has said he does not believe the arrival of Chris Froome at his Israel Start-Up Nation team will cause any friction between the two.
Four-time Tour de France winner Froome will
start racing for Israel Start Up Nation next year.
Despite Froome coming in as Tour de
France general classification leader, Martin was hopeful the partnership could
work to the benefit of both riders.
“I think our racing styles are very
different, but we can complement each other,” Ireland’s Martin said of Froome,
who will become his team mate from January 1st next.
“You can look at our palmarès and the
races that we’ve both won, and how we’ve won them and it’s very different. I
think we can definitely work together to make this team a force to be reckoned
with.”
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However, Martin admitted he has not
discussed with team management how the relationship between him and Froome will
affect team dynamics next season.
Given that Froome has been promised the
position of team leader in 2021, there is uncertainty over what role Martin
will play.
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Nevertheless, Martin is optimistic it
will be a positive for both him and Israel Start Up Nation.
He is a rider who has done very well in
classics, unlike Froome, while the squad will often have two groups targeting
stage races during next season, meaning Froome and Martin may not always be in
the same races.
“Having somebody of Chris’s level in the
team, it requires everybody to step up, including myself, so it makes you
improve,” Dan Martin told US site VeloNews.
“It always makes you improve. The more
good riders you’re surrounded by, just personally speaking, it does make you
improve. So, I’m excited about that. And I’m sure I can learn a lot from him.
“It’s a chance that the whole team to
step up. Chris obviously is one of the best riders of this generation, I mean,
his record speaks for itself.
“I think I first met him in 2006 or
something. We go way back, and we’re friends. We talked a couple of times before
he’d even signed for the team; we have that type of relationship. It’s all good
from my perspective.”
The 33-year-old Irish rider said he was
very pleased with the team atmosphere and the work environment that has been
fostered by Israel Start Up Nation, noting how the team directors have managed
to get the diverse group of riders to gel ahead of the Grand Tours.
While Froome joins Martin at the team next
year, before then Martin will lead the team at the Tour de France; looking for
a strong GC ride and to add to his tally of two stage wins on the race so far
in his career.
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