Dan Martin has said he simply couldn't have done any more in his efforts to win the stage at Volta ao Algarve today.
The Irish rider, now competing in the colours of Israel Start-Up Nation, took 2nd on the stage after Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) attacked inside the final kilometre on the 3km climb to Malhão.
He beat Martin by two seconds, with race leader Remco Evenepoel in 3rd another two seconds back and just about retaining his race lead and denying Martin yellow.
“Of course it’s frustrating to come so close but I have to be happy,” Dan Martin said after the stage.
“I did everything right in the final but López was just stronger. I thought I might be able to come back at him but in the end he was just too strong.
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“The team did a fantastic job all day, and I stayed relaxed and in good position.
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"It was a great team performance and I’m just happy I was able to get a result for them.
“When Lopez accelerated he had that little bit more of a punch and he just got the gap and he held that to the finish. I just couldn’t close it.”
However, despite being unable to catch Lopez, Dan Martin
said he was very happy with his form so far.
“It’s a great start to the season, I’m really enjoying
racing. We are racing with a smile on our faces and that’s important. It’s amazing
how well we’re racing already.”
Martin's directeur Dirk Demol said the Irish cyclist had put in “a great performance".
"We're in the game almost every day, getting good results," he said. “We missed the yellow jersey but, on the other hand, our goal was trying to go for the stage win.”
While Martin is now 2nd overall and on equal time with leader Evenepoel, the flat 20.3km TT that will conclude the race on Sunday is much better suited to the young Belgian rider.
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