Dan Martin wins stage 9 of the Vuelta a Espana in 2009 into La Covatilla. In the next three weeks can he smash his Grand Tour best of 13th overall in the race that year and add more Grand Tour stage wins to his palmares? (Photo: Stefano Sirotti)
The pressure of carrying all of Garmin-Sharp's hopes into the Vuelta a Espana has been taken off the shoulders of the team's Irish star Dan Martin, with news today that he will share the leadership with tried and trusted wing man Ryder Hesjedal.
The American rider Andrew Talansky, who was forced out of last month's Tour de France due to crash related injuries, is also in the Vuelta line-up and could feature as a protected rider depending on the progress of Martin and former Giro winner Hesjedal.
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Martin is looking to the Vuelta, which starts on Saturday, and the section of the season that follows to rescue his year.
When it was announced the Giro d'Italia would start in Ireland this year, Martin immediately nominated it as his major goal for the first half of 2014. He spent the early months of the current campaign keeping a lid on his form.
Martin's participation in the World Championships in Florence last year was short lived, but he is targeting the event in Spain at the end of next month (Photo: Stefano Sirotti)
He let rip as the Giro neared, taking 2nd place at La Flèche Wallonne and riding very well at Liège–Bastogne–Liège just days later when he looked like he would win the race for a second consecutive year only to crash on the last corner.
He then went into the Giro in what appeared the form of his life only to crash on the opening team time trial stage in Belfast, breaking his collar bone.
His recovery has taken some time, with the Irish road championships in late June his first race outing after the crash.
He missed the escape there and while he almost closed down the leaders with Damien Shaw (Aquablue); winner Ryan Mullen (An Post-Chainreaction) had taken flight alone and powered to the title
Last week Martin rode the four-day Tour de l'Ain in France; finishing 2nd and 3rd on stages and 3rd overall.
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It was his best ride since Liège–Bastogne–Liège and he told stickybottle at the weekend he believed his form was coming along very well in time for the Vuelta, where he won a mountain stage in 2011.
Less than overjoyed, Martin takes his prize for 2nd place at the Giro Lombardia in 2011; he should be fresh and ready for it again after the Vuelta if he can stay incident free (Photo: Stefano Sirotti)
His 13th placing in that Vuelta remains his best finish in a Grand Tour; a scenario that in no way reflects his standing as one of the best riders in the world and which could well be turned on its head in the coming weeks
He will be looking for stage wins in Spain and the team will also be hoping for a major general classification ride from Martin and Hesjedal after its team leaders on the Giro and Tour were forced out of those races
As well as Hesjedal, Martin and Talansky, the team includes Nate Brown, Andre Cardoso, Koldo Fernandez, Nathan Haas, David Millar and Johan Vansummeren. It will be Millar's last Grand Tour.
After the Vuelta, Martin will target the World Championships in Spain at the end of September and the Tour of Lombardy after it.
Having been second and fourth in Lombardy in 2011 and last year respectively, if he stays incident free and has a good Vuelta he will go to the line in Italy as a hot favourite and will also be a favourite for the Worlds just before it.
On the attack in France last weekend, Martin looked back to his usual aggressive self in the mountains.
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