Dan Martin "incredibly motivated" to start racing as team sets return dates

*Dan Martin is looking forward to start racing again as he builds up towards leading Israel Start-Up Nation at the Tour de France starting in late August*

Dan Martin has said he's really looking forward to starting racing again when competition resumes after the Covid19 lock-down.

The Irish rider had to make do with home training in Andorra when lock-down began but now that restrictions are being eased across Europe his team has set out its racing programme.

While Martin is not set to return to racing with Israel Cycling Academy until the WorldTour races commence from August 1st, other riders in the squad will be in action as early as the four-day Tour of Sibiu (2.1) in Romania from July 2nd.

Israel Start-Up also held a training camp in Israel for its home-based riders the week before last and plans to hold camps for different groups of riders in the weeks ahead in Europe.

While Chris Froome has, in some media reports, been linked to a mid-season transfer to Israel Start-Up Nation, among other teams, the Israeli outfit has confirmed Ireland's Martin will be its leader at the Tour this year.

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“I am incredibly motivated to pin on a number and get some big results for ISN in what (has been) a truly unprecedented season," he said.

"It’s a congested calendar, so picking a route through it and setting goals is tricky, plus weather conditions will be different in the races to the standard, but I’m looking forward to it," he added of the UCI's revised racing calendar.

"It remains to be seen what the circumstances that we race under will be, but I’m confident the team will be prepared for whatever those conditions are and can’t wait to get racing again.”

The team’s WorldTour schedule of races, some of which Martin will ride, commences on August 1^st with Strade Bianche followed by Tour de Pologne from August 5^th to 12th; a race Dan Martin won during his early career.

Israel Start-Up Nation will also compete in a series of other WorldTour events, below, as it builds up to the Tour de France from August 29^th to September 20^th.