Dan Martin roars up the Muur de Huy on the way to third place in Fleche Wallone this afternoon. The Etixx-QuickStep man was only beaten by runner-up Julian Alaphilippe, left, and eventual winner Alejandro Valverde (Photo: Sirotti)
Dan Martin has expressed both satisfaction and regret in the aftermath of Fleche Wallone today.
The 29 year-old Irishman was third in a race to the finish where only four-time winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and teammare Julian Alaphilippe had his measure.
The latter finished runner-up for the second year in succession and for the first time in 13 years, two riders from the same team completed the podium.
Martin rode a textbook race – staying out of danger and keeping his powder dry for the final climb up the Muur de Huy.
There, the gradient hit pitches of well over 20% but coming under the red kite Martin was well-poised towards the head of affairs.
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He hit out for home with 250 metres to go and admitted that had been the plan - to take the hot favourite Valverde by surprise.
Martin, right, said he had mixed emotions; failing to take the win for the team but still placing two men on the podium (Photo: Sirotti)
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"We wanted to go for the victory, but second and third on the podium is still a great result for the team,” said Martin.
“We knew that we can't beat Alejandro on the last 100 meters so we tried to anticipate with 300 meters to go.
“We rode aggressively and the tactic was for Julian to stay in the wheel of Valverde, while I tried to go a little bit from afar.
“I have a very good relationship with Julian and we work very well together.
“We have to be happy, but we're also a bit sad, because we came here to get the win.”
“I knew that if I wanted to win I needed to go from 250 metres,” Martin told reporters at the post race press conference.
“I think this year I rode a lot better climb than I’ve ever done before. Other years I’ve always been coming from too far behind.
“This year I really rode aggressively at the bottom of the climb and that’s maybe why I lacked a bit of legs in the last 100 metres.
“But I tried to win and I went into the race only thinking about that. I went into the bottom of the climb believing I could win.”
While both himself and Alaphilippe were both capable of winning, Martin said they would achieve it differently.
“That’s why we made the tactic that Julian would stay on Alejandro’s wheel and try to beat him on the line, while I would go from a little bit further.
“But obviously, Alejandro knows the climb and he almost read our tactics perfectly. It’s really difficult to beat him. I think he was just stronger.”
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