Irish cyclist Dan Martin had said he was signing for UAE Team Emirates as it could offer him a team leader role at the Tour de France. But there are a few twists and turns still to come with those plans.
Dan Martin and Fabio Aru may share Tour de France leader role
It appears Chris Froome’s difficulties are causing UAE Team Emirates to reconsider Fabio Aru for the Tour de France.
Any such decision would mean Irish rider Dan Martin would face sharing the team leader role in France in July.
Both UAE Team Emirates and Aru had strongly suggested the Italian would focus on the Giro and Martin on the Tour.
Indeed, when Dan Martin signed for the squad he suggested one of the advantages was team leadership at the Tour. He added Aru preferred the Giro and would ride it rather than the Tour.
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Both riders were then expected to ride the Vuelta on the same team.
The squad has never officially said Aru will not ride the Tour. But all of the soundings have been around Aru for the Giro and Martin for the Tour.
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However, with the team having just held a training camp in Sicily, and Chris Froome now facing a big problem in the shape of his adverse dope test result from the Vuelta, the door is now being left firmly open for an Aru Tour ride.
The team has talked to cyclingnews in terms of Aru riding the Tour. And one of the things they are studying is his rivals’ plans.
The biggest rival for a Tour victory is, of course, Froome. But if he were forced to sit out part of next year due to his salbutamol levels, it would give his rivals renewed hope of a Tour win.
Giuseppe Saronni, Aru’s and Martin’s team manager, said a Tour ride for Aru was still possible.
“The importance of the Tour de France is a key factor. We've got to consider the Tour first but it's a very difficult and delicate decision,” he said.
TT to suit Fabio Aru and Dan Martin
“It's up to our technical staff and the riders to consider things. The 2018 Tour de France seems to be designed really well for the climbers and for riders like Fabio Aru as well as Dan Martin.
“The time trial is hard and includes four climbs. It's not really suited to time trial specialists. It's more suited to climbers.
"That's why the final decision will be taken further ahead, probably in the New Year.
“We're going to take extra time to carefully evaluate every aspect because it's a very important decision. We want the riders to compete in the races that suit them best."
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