Dan Martin has already enjoyed a huge season, but a Tour de France stage win or two will make him a household name; he sounds like he's up for the fight.
By Brian Canty
Dan Martin has said he is in much better shape physically and mentally for this year’s Tour de France compared to his debut last year.
The Garmin-SHARP rider has already arrived in Corsica ahead of Saturday’s Tour de France Grand Depart, heading into the race on the back of a very strong season so far. In the most recent Tour de Suisse he finished eighth overall but said he raced it tired and was even surprised at how well he rode.
“I’m good, I was tired after Switzerland, really tired,” he told stickybottle.
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“I went into it tired because I wasn’t really going in there planning on riding (for the) general classification. I was more planning on helping Ryder (Hesjedal) out and training and maybe going for a couple of stages. So I went in tired after doing three weeks hard training and then a week in the Dolomites; I just had two days’ rest before the race.”
“Then my heart rate didn’t go up so high in the prologue and then it went up less high in the last time trial; I was pretty knackered but all in all it was a fantastic week’s preparation.”
“And to come away with a top 10, when I didn’t really plan or expect it and didn’t go there looking for that; I think it shows the level that I’ve progressed to now and it gives me even more confidence for the next few weeks.”
One of the biggest areas where Martin has improved this year is in his time-trialling and last week he drove for nine hours to ride what he expects will be a gruelling stage 17; the 32 kilometre test from Embrun to Chorges, which comes just a day before the riders tackle Alpe d’Huez twice.
“Time trials are always crucial because everyone is always so close at the top,” he said.
“That TT is going to be decided by a handful of seconds, like a minute or so, so it’s going to be very close. Although it’s a testing time-trial, if somebody has a really bad day they might lose valuable time."
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“But it’s a new era for cycling as well, everyone is so equal, you’re not going to see minutes of a difference on the top of mountains unless someone has a really bad day and over three weeks, it’s the combination of those bad days that make up the general classification.”
“I rode the time trial course last week and we’re still not sure what bike I’m going to use, it’s a really technical course but then the last 10k or so is really, really fast so it’s one of those courses where you definitely need a time-trial (bike) at the end.”
“But in the first part you definitely need a road bike but I don’t think it’s worth changing the bike so it’s a real balancing act. So that’s going to be another tactical aspect of it, but it makes the race interesting,” he explained.
To that end, he has spent more time than ever on his time-trial bike, the Cervelo P5, and he feels much stronger now that he did at the same time last year.
“I’ve got a really good position that I feel strong in and I’m doing these new core exercises and that’s made the biggest difference in me. My core is a lot stronger and I feel a lot more power coming from my lower back and that’s the same for the road bike as well.”
“I think that’s one of the things I’ve changed over the winter that has made a big difference to my season this year. I’ve got a really aerodynamic position and it’s just about getting the power down now in the race.”
“I put a lot more effort in. It’s been progressing well and obviously I’ve been practicing as well. Last year the only time trial I did was in the Dauphine when I had my crash. And the Tour was the Tour, so I’ve had a lot more time to practice this year... hopefully practice makes perfect.”
Last year he admitted to being a bit nervous, but following his stellar season so far, one that has seen him win Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Volta A Catalunya, he’s more excited this time.
“I can’t believe it’s here already. This year has gone so quickly. It’s kind of incredible but I’m excited to get racing because I know I’m in such a good position this year.
“Training has been good and psychologically I’m ready this year. Last year, perhaps I went in a bit more nervous but this year I’m ready to race and really proactive and I know what to expect and that’s exciting. I think it’s important and I’m a lot better prepared as well than I was at the same time last year."
