Dan Martin on the most important podium in cycling; at the end of the Tour de France. He was there as winner of the combativity classification this year. But he has the legs to get onto the general classification podium next year, if the Gods smiled on him a little.
Former pro rider and experienced management figure Allan Peiper has joined the management staff at UAE Team Emirates.
And the move appears to be aimed at assisting Dan Martin, which is great news for the Irishman.
Despite costly crashes in the last two editions of the Tour de France, Martin has enjoyed his best overall results in those editions of the race.
He was 6th last year, despite being diagnosed with fractured vertebrae after the event. Those fractures were caused by a bad crash on stage 9.
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And though Martin crashed again this year, this time on stage 8 when he lost over a minute, he was 8th overall.
He also won stage 6 this year and claimed the most aggressive rider classification, which came with a trip to the podium in Paris.
Given the consistency that has come into his riding in recent years, especially in hilly stage races, Dan Martin can place higher in the Tour.
Realistically, as he is now aged 32 years, his chances are more limited. But next year seems like a great opportunity considering the very hilly course, which features very little TT racing.
And now that Peiper has been drafted into the team, it seems he will be there to work closely with Martin. The Irish rider will of course target both the Ardennes Classics and the Tour in 2019.
Allan Peiper has specifically referenced working with Dan Martin as a major factor in his move to the Irish cyclist's team.
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Peiper comes to UAE Team Emirates as directeur sportif after six years with BMC Racing where he was sporting manager.
Allan Peiper told Ride Media in his native Australia that he had been talking to several teams about working with them now that BMC Racing has folded.
However, he has now decided on UAE Team Emirates and cited working with Dan Martin as a key reason.
“UAE has ticked all the boxes. It’s a very professional outfit and a great environment for riders to develop,” he said.
“I’m excited about the prospect of working with a rider like Dan Martin. He has become a genuine GC contender in recent years.”
Changing team around Dan Martin
Peiper's arrival at the team is now the only change. The most significant development in the off-season has been its signing for Fernando Gaviria.
The Colombian sprinter, still aged just 24 years won two stages of the Tour this year and claimed the yellow jersey.
While he scored nine victories this year, such are the expectations on his shoulders that 2018 was season as a mediocre year for him.
Last year, for example, he scored 14 wins including an amazing five stage wins at the Giro.
With Gaviria having department Quickstep a year early to join UAE Team Emirates, it means the team’s Tour line-up will be interesting.
Given the money Gaviria will be getting paid, he must ride the Tour and win stages. And that means the squad has to use several places on the team for lead-out men.
That will diminish its horsepower in the mountains, where Martin will need help. Fabio Aru will also likely ride the Tour next year and would likely share overall team leadership with Martin.
However, Aru may focus on the Giro again; as he did this year in unspectacular fashion. He enjoyed poor form and eventually abandoned.
If he were to go back to the Giro again as his main Grand Tour, then Dan Martin would be the team’s GC man for the Tour de France. And Gaviria would be the focus on the sprint stages.
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