Dan Martin may have lost just over 5½ minutes on the opening stage of the Tour de France yesterday but the Irish rider has described any time loss as “irrelevant” because he is at the race to win a stage and not ride for the overall.
"Because I've obviously just completed the Giro and
had a very strong race there, I don't really know where I'm at. I feel really
good. But I don't know how much fatigue
is in the body still,” he said.
"I don't really have any expectations for the first
few days. The main objective for me will be to ride through the first week
safely, stay out of trouble.
"I've already said to the team, any time that I lose, it doesn't matter. It's irrelevant. It's about getting my legs back; get my legs used to racing again, and preparing for the mountain stages that lie ahead. There are a lot of opportunities for me to win a stage."
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Martin continued: "My main goal for this race, is to win a stage because the team has never won one before and I'm potentially the best candidate in the team to do that. I'll have full support on the days that I choose to really target."
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Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) was speaking to ‘Game On’ just before the race began, adding he was unsure if he could win atop Mur de Bretagne today, as he did in 2018.
"Obviously, I've won on the same finish line as stage
2 three years ago. But I personally have
changed quite a bit since then,” he said.
"I've become much more of a climber. And the sport
has become much more competitive with the type of rider who can do well at that
stage finish."
“I
definitely have the capability to win another stage in the Tour de France. It doesn't feel like pressure because
we have a lovely atmosphere here.
“As long
as I give my all, they'll be happy. Obviously, I'd love to win a stage but if
it doesn't happen, we'll just be proud I've given my all."
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