Such is the quality in Etixx–QuickStep that Dan Martin, above, will share the team leader role in Flèche Wallonne with at least one other rider, and possibly two.
He may have already settled very well into his new surroundings at Etixx – Quick-Step so far this season with two victories, but such is the quality in the team that Dan Martin will share the leadership role at Flèche Wallonne.
The 196km event down for decision today, Wednesday, is exactly the kind of race the Irish international will look too to score a major win this season.
He took 2nd two years ago and can definitely take victory on the finishing 1.3km ramp of the Mur de Huy if he is on song and positions himself well.
But Martin will have to share the leadership role with last year’s runner up Julian Alaphilippe.
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He was 7th in Amstel Gold last year and then went on to finish 2nd in both Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with Martin falling victim to crashes in both races.
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Martin, Valverde and Kwiatkowski on the podium at the end of 4hrs 36mins of action at Flèche Wallonne two years ago. Martin is in form and starts as one of the big favourites this time around.
Alaphilippe has warmed up for Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège this time around with 8th in Brabantse Pijl before his 6th in Amstel Gold at the weekend.
A win in early February for Martin at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana suggested the 29-year-old had settled well and was keen to impress in his new surroundings.
And he followed that up with a stage victory at Volta A Catalunya last month, where he also wore the leader’s jersey for a day before fighting all the way to the finish to take 3rd overall.
Etixx – Quick-Step confirmed on the eve of Flèche Wallonne that Alaphilippe and Martin were both its key riders in the race.
And having won Brabantse Pijl last week, Petr Vakoč may also play his part in a leadership role.
The team’s line-up for the race also includes Gianluca Brambilla, David De La Cruz, Laurens De Plus, Bob Jungels and Pieter Serry.
The classic starts in Marche-en-Femenne and after the first passage of the Mur de Huy a new climb has been added with just over 40km remaining; Côte de Solières.
It remains to be seen if that might help break up the field rather than the race being decided in the slog up to the finish line second time up Mur de Huy, as has often been the case.
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