After seeing his general classification challenge fall by
the wayside on the Tourmalet on Saturday, Dan Martin said he was determined to
try yesterday.
The UAE Team Emirates rider went clear in a large
breakaway that also contained his cousin Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb).
Ultimately both were caught; Martin only yielding to the
pursuers on the second half of the climb to the summit finish.
He would eventually finish in 21st place, some 3:38 down
on winner Simon Yates; the Mitchelton-Scott rider winning the stage from the
breakaway.
Martin’s ride saw him move up the general standings by
one place to 15th, with the testing final week still to come.
“It was a brutal out there today,” he said, looking
exhausted after yesterday’s 185km stage 15 from Limoux to Foix.
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“We expected a big group to go early, and after the
disappointment of yesterday I wanted to be in the race again and enjoy racing.
“I didn’t think they would let me go, so I waited until
it was really hard and then made the split on the climb.
“I’m looking forward to the rest day now,” he said of the
break in the action today, Monday.
“I’ve been riding GC for two weeks and with yesterday not
going to plan, I’m just a bit disappointed to be caught when I did.
“It’s probably the hardest stage I have ever done at the
Tour de France.”
Tour de France stage 15 highlights
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