Dan Martin is going up against some very heavy artillery at the Critérium du Dauphiné. And in the opening stage he got the first measure of where he is at in relation to his rivals.
Rating Dan Martin Critérium du Dauphiné TT
Dan Martin has lost time to his main rivals in the opening TT at Critérium du Dauphiné. Only Warren Barguil (Fortuneo-Oscaro) of the general classification riders fared worse.
In truth, Barguil is one to watch for stage wins rather than the general classification over the next week.
It means after the first 6.6km of the race - the prologue TT in Valence today - Martin (31) already has ground to make up.
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However, the Irishman never enjoys tests like today's; short and pan flat. And his losing time was to be expected.
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Dan Martin has also pointed out there is an extra week between the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de France this year.
Because of that, he does not expect his form to be as good at this race as it has been in previous years. Martin, of course, has finished 3rd in the Dauphiné over the past two years.
And he went on from those two rides to take 9th and 6th in the Tour. But now Martin is suggesting that because of that extra week between the two races, carrying form from the Dauphiné into the Tour will not be as easy.
Top and bottom: Michal Kwiatkowski on his way to stage victory and in yellow. Middle, Julian Alaphilippe in the middle of a very strong ride.
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Today Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) won the stage in a time of 7:25. And Martin would lose 29 seconds to him.
That's not insurmountable of course. But of more concern to Martin is that others who can climb, and who have already shown better form than the Irishman this year, got much closer to the winner today.
Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep) had a good day today; finishing in 17th place and losing only 14 seconds. That was the best ride of the general classification men; Kwiatkowski aside.
Alaphilippe has already won La Flèche Wallonne (1.UWT) this year. He was 6th in this race two years ago as a 23-year-old and is a much stronger rider now; making him one to watch closely over the coming week.
He's already 15 seconds to the good over Dan Martin.
Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) was 3rd in the Vuelta last year and 5th in the Giro. He has to be counted into contention and was 29th today, some 18 seconds off the winner and 11 seconds ahead of Martin.
And while any time loss would not be welcomed by the Irish rider, he is less than 10 seconds ahead of everyone else; not much of a crisis.
Marc Soler (Movistar) was 39th today; some 20 seconds off the winner and 9 ahead of Martin. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) and Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) were both just one second slower; the latter despite a bad crash.
Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) was 23 seconds down today and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) were 24 seconds off the stage win and five ahead of Martin.
Pierre Rolland (EF-Drapac Cannondale) has probably been forgotten by everyone but he just might do a ride. He was 68th today, some 27 seconds down on stage winner Kwiatkowski and two ahead of Martin.
Martin can excel on climbs
In summary; the time relinquished by Dan Martin today is small beer. But the fact the Irish rider was slowest of all of the general classification men is a worry.
Martin can, as world cycling knows, be very explosive in the climbs. And one good day in the mountains can turn this race on its head, even if the gaps get much bigger.
The UAE Team Emirates rider will be looking for a strong performance at this Dauphiné; not least because team mate Fabio Aru may be riding the Tour and Martin needs to stake his claim to leadership.
How the top men did in the TT
1 Michal Kwiatkowski Team Sky 0:07:25
17 Julian Alaphilippe Quick-Step Floors 0:00:14
29 Ilnur Zakarin Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:18
39 Marc Soler Movistar Team 0:00:20
42 Adam Yates Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:21
43 Geraint Thomas Team Sky 0:00:21
48 Romain Bardet AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:23
58 Vincenzo Nibali Bahrain-Merida 0:00:24
59 Tiesj Benoot Lotto Soudal 0:00:24
68 Pierre Rolland EF-Drapac Cannondale 0:00:27
73 Daniel Martin UAE Team Emirates 0:00:29
139 Warren Barguil Fortuneo-Oscaro 0:00:49
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