Video: Dan Martin on the relief of finally taking a big result

The relief was written all over Dan Martin's face; he is back in the game and is looking like his old self after a much quieter than normal start to the season. His form is coming as the Tour de France looms.

It's nowhere near his best results of monument wins and Grand Tour stage victories, but Dan Martin was clearly relieved after his ride at Critérium du Dauphiné yesterday.

On the climb up to the finish at the end of stage 4, Martin sprang from the pack and split the already reduced peloton to pieces.

He kept it going from 550 metres out all the way to the line, where he was pipped for the win by Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep).

But only the winner, Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) could live with Martin's pace.

And after an indifferent season to date Dan Martin looks to have his legs and killer instinct back.

"When I went, I kind of saw Julian was a little bit boxed in. But at the finish? I don't have that sprint yet; it's coming,” he said.

“I'm happy. I felt good all day. The guys did a great job. We're getting there. I could hear Cataldo was coming back but then I was just trying to wait. I was ready to go.

“But on that gradient we were going so quick that it was pointless to attack before I did. I kind of felt a bit of easing and thought 'yeah I can go to the line from there'.

“Otherwise, it just starts to get messy. If I wait until the last 200 metres, Julian beats me.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain

“Maybe I should go a little further out next time. Congratulations to Julian, though. We were teammates for two years, and we're good friends. I wish I'd won though."

Martin said, after his move to UAE Team Emirates began with a muted start to the season, he felt the pieces were now falling into place.

"It's just learning, it's adapting to the new environment,” he explained of moving teams.

“I've had good legs in training all year, but it just hasn't quite come together in races for various little reasons; some my own, some misfortune, and some that learning process.

"It's good to get a result down on paper. Because in training; I've been really good. So that part is a relief and it's a good sign for the next few days.”