Dan Martin may have crashed yesterday, but he is hopeful of a result by the time the week is out
By Graham Healy
Daniel Martin (Garmin–Sharp) has had a difficult start to his hilly classics campaign as he crashed out of Amstel Gold yesterday. Prior to the race he had been hopeful of a good result as he indicated that he was feeling good and just needed a bit of luck. However, that luck was to elude him in Holland.
Along with Ryder Hesjedal, he was joint team leader and the two worked well together at the Ardennes classics last year. Prior to the race, Martin’s directeur sportif Johnny Weltz was also hopeful of a result from the Irishman, saying: “He climbs extremely well, he’s got a good sprint and after winning Catalunya his morale is really good and that can be what makes the difference.”
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The pressure was taken off Martin and Hesjedal from an early stage, as their team-mate Johan Van Summeren initiated the main break of the day. This break stayed clear for most of the race, and they were in no doubt helped by the numerous crashes in the bunch. The parcours of Amstel Gold is notorious for its twisty circuit and the amount of traffic furniture that the riders have to negotiate.
Martin was not alone in coming down in one of these crashes, as world champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) also crashed, as well as Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).
Up ahead, in the closing stages the early break splintered, with a number of riders making it across from the peloton, including Roman Kreuziger (Saxo Tinkoff). Hesjedal made a last-ditch attempt to make it across to the leaders, but at that stage Kreuziger was already well clear on his own, and went on to take the win. Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) was also a non-finisher yesterday, and he will also line up at the two other Ardennes classics later this week.
Last year, Martin was 5th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and 6th in Flèche Wallonne, and he will be hopeful that he will perform even better this year. He remains optimistic as he tweeted this morning: “Best thing about this week, two more chances and they suit me better. Form is good and except a sore neck, not a scratch.”
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